The captain of the Argentine men's football team, Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for a record eight times becoming the first person to achieve such feat.
The South American expressed his excitement after he was given the trophy by David Beckham on Monday, October 30, 2023. According to him, each one of the awards he has won meant something special to him and for different reasons.
"It's nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment. To be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream. I could not imagine having the career I've had and everything I've achieved, the fortune I've had to be part of the best team in history. All of them [Ballon d'Or awards] are special for different reasons."
He was asked by a reporter if he thinks he is the greatest footballer of all time.
"As I always said, I do not know if I am the best player in history or not. If I am one of the best, then this is a wonderful thing."
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Messi won his first Ballon d'Or award in 2009 after winning it again in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He took a break from winning it and came back to win it in 2015, then in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
