Lionel Messi has etched his name in football history once more, claiming a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or trophy at a glamorous ceremony in Paris. You can profitably bet on the Argentine footballer (personal stats) and his teams (Argentina national team or Inter Miami) via the https://mostbet-az-casino.com/ platform at any time.
A great year of trophies and victories
It’s been an incredible year for the Argentine wizard, capped off by this prestigious individual honor. But did he truly deserve it over other worthy contenders this time around? A deep dive into Messi’s stats and achievements in 2022 makes a strong case.
With seven prior Ballon d’Or wins under his belt, along with five second-place finishes, Messi has long cemented his status as an all-time great. «I never imagined achieving all that I have in my career and being so fortunate to be part of the best team ever», – a grateful Messi remarked during his acceptance speech.
«Winning the Copa America and World Cup for Argentina after so many difficult moments means everything to me», – said Lionel Messi.
At 36 years of age, the fact that Messi remains in the discussion for best player on the planet is a testament to his enduring class and consistency. His 2022 campaign has only bolstered his legacy as a once-in-a-generation talent.
In a uniquely condensed season due to the World Cup schedule, Messi’s brilliance shone through both for club and country. He spearheaded Argentina’s charge to World Cup glory, turning in a masterful performance on football’s biggest stage.
Just few stats of Lionel
Domestically, Messi also led PSG to the Ligue 1 title and Trophee des Champions. Despite these team accomplishments, his chief competition for the 2023 Ballon d’Or was Karim Benzema after the Frenchman’s dominant season.
While Benzema’s achievements would make him the runaway favorite most years, even he couldn’t eclipse Messi’s comprehensive body of work over the past year. Let’s examine the historic statistics that cemented Messi’s case:
- Won a treble of major trophies (World Cup, Ligue 1, Trophee des Champions);
- Produced a staggering 67 goal contributions across all competitions;
- Named Man of the Match a record 5 times in Argentina’s World Cup run;
- First player to score in all knockout round matches at a single World Cup;
- Won his second career Golden Ball in Qatar after 2014;
- Surpassed legends like Mbappe and Ronaldo in World Cup goals scored;
- Highest rated player in Champions League per WhoScored ratings;
- Created more chances and take-ons than any player in Europe’s top 5 leagues;
- Topped Europe in assists while averaging a goal/assist every 89 minutes.
By any measure, Messi’s prolific productivity and game-changing impact in 2022 was off the charts. At his age, to sustain that level of excellence is simply unmatched in football history. Even with all Messi has already achieved, this latest Ballon d’Or represents a new pinnacle – further cementing his status as the greatest of all time.
