Messi Secures GOAT Position with Eighth Ballon d'Or, Ascending as Bookies' Favorite
Lionel Messi has once again taken home the prestigious Ballon d'Or, earning his eighth title. Books had him as the clear favorite for this incredible accomplishment despite his recent switch to Inter Miami in the MLS, signifying his last year of eligibility for this award.
Messi's most recent achievement will go down in soccer history. Although his move to Inter Miami rules him out for future nominations, his legacy is already secure.
Messi's fiercest rival in the race for the Ballon d'Or is Cristiano Ronaldo, with his five titles. Realistically, it's almost impossible for Ronaldo to catch up if he intends to retire in 2026.
Messi's Dominance
The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony took place on Monday at the renowned Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. Inter Miami's co-owner, former English soccer star David Beckham, presented the trophy to Messi.
Messi's impressive season included winning the Ligue 1 title and the Trophies de Champions with Paris Saint Germain. Additionally, he played a key role in securing the FIFA World Cup title for his home country, Argentina, outperformifying his competitors such as Erling Haaland, who placed second in the odds. Jude Bellingham was in third place.
Top contenders among the 30 finalists included Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema, and Harry Kane. However, Messi was the clear favorite, with odds of about -2500 on most sportsbooks, while Haaland had +900 and Bellingham had +4000.
Haaland did score a victory this night when he was awarded the Gerd Muller Trophy for best striker of the season.
Bonmatí's Historic Win
In the world of women's soccer, Spain's Aitana Bonmatí was named the Ballon d'Or winner. This title perfectly encapsulates her outstanding performance during Spain's Women's World Cup victory two months ago.
Bonmatí generously contributed to the championship, scoring three goals and recording two assists. For her extraordinary performance, she was granted the Golden Ball, an award given to the World Cup's most exceptional player.
Bonmatí impacted soccer at the domestic level too, playing a vital part in Barcelona's double win last season. The team claimed its eighth Liga F championship, firmly establishing its status as the dominant force in the country, and also achieved a historic second triumph in the Women's Champions League.
Bonmatí was an obvious choice as the favorite in the women's category. She boasted odds of -150, far surpassing Madrid's Olga Carmona's +800 and Man U's Mary Earps' +1000.
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