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‘You deserve’it’—Lionel Messi sent classy message by ex-PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe after 2023 Ballon d’Or triumph.
Lionel Messi was greeted with a gracious “you truly deserve it” message from his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Kylian Mbappe, following his triumph at the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
The French star conveyed his heartfelt congratulations after Messi clinched his record-breaking eighth Golden Ball trophy in Paris on Monday night, attributed to his pivotal role in securing Argentina’s third global championship in Qatar, notably in their thrilling tie-breaker victory over France.
The debate surrounding Messi’s Ballon d’Or win over Haaland has been fervent, with the Norwegian forward having an outstanding individual and collective season, netting an impressive 52 goals across all competitions and guiding Manchester City to a historic treble in the 2022–23 campaign.
Nonetheless, Mbappe left no room for doubt, lauding Messi as the unequivocal and rightful recipient of the most esteemed individual honor in the world of football.
During his acceptance speech, Messi also extended a message of praise to Haaland and Mbappe, foreseeing them as potential future recipients of the award.
Despite an exceptional season where he secured the World Cup Golden Boot and the Ligue 1 trophy with PSG, the PSG forward claimed the third spot in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
He had notched an impressive 55 goals for both club and country in the preceding season, yet his failure to lead France to a second consecutive world title possibly hindered his bid for the coveted Ballon d’Or title.
Looking ahead, Mbappe is set to return to the pitch on Saturday for a Ligue 1 showdown against Montpellier at the Parc des Princes.