How Messi and Bonmatí Win Men’s And Women’s Ballon d’Or Awards

By: Gyang Dakwo

Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday, while Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or Féminin – the annual soccer awards celebrating the best players in the men’s and women’s game.

Messi, who won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, picked up this year’s award in Paris after captaining Argentina’s victorious World Cup campaign at the end of last year, the biggest title of the Inter Miami star’s career to date.

Messi, 36, has won the award three times more than anyone else.

The former Barcelona star topped the voting ahead of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Messi’s former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Kylian Mbappé.

Bonmatí was an influential figure in Spain’s Women’s World Cup win two months ago, scoring three goals and registering two assists and winning the Golden Ball for the best player at Australia and New Zealand 2023.

She also helped Barcelona Femení to a double last season, with the Blaugrana claiming the team’s eighth Liga F title and a second Women’s Champions League after defeating Wolfsburg in June.