Lionel Messi recently secured his eighth Ballon d’Or win in 2023, a remarkable achievement. His presence in Paris, where the award ceremony took place, brought back memories of his two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain.
In this year’s competition, Messi outshone Erling Haaland from Manchester City and his former PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappé, to claim the prestigious title. During an interview with France Football, the 36-year-old was asked about his stint with the French capital club.
Messi seemed eager to move past his time with the Ligue 1 side while still acknowledging the mixed experiences he had during those two years. He reflected, saying,
“I spent two years during which a lot of things happened, some good and others not so good.
But I have already mentioned this period several times. It is now in the past, and I only remember the positive things: with the team, we won two championships in a row… I made very good friends in Paris, and it was by playing there that I managed to become a world champion.”
As Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo near the end of their careers, the Ballon d’Or appears to be up for grabs, awaiting someone to establish a dominant presence in the coming years. All eyes are now on Mbappé, who will have opportunities to enhance his credentials with UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2024 Paris Olympics, along with his performances at the club level.