Mzansi reacts to Lionel Messi winning 8th Ballon d’Or

After months of debate, Lionel Messi was crowned as this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or winner on Monday 30 October 2023. He became the first player to ever win the prestigious prize 8 times. 

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The award recognises the top football player on the planet for their achievements in the past season and this year’s prize was hotly contested. While the world is celebrating Lionel Messi for the big win, in South Africa the debate is raging over whether or not the Argentine was the deserved winner in this year’s rankings. 

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DID LIONEL MESSI DESERVE THE TOP PRIZE? 

This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris where Messi emerged victorious. 

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Nicknamed ‘Leo’, the “number 10” is arguably the most recognisable footballer (although Ronaldo fans might want to have a word) on the planet. However, it’s his achievements in the past 12 months resulted in this big prize

The 36-year-old attacker led his country to the FIFA World Cup in December 2022, their first time winning the trophy since 1986. For Messi, this was seen as a full-circle moment as he had won just about every other major trophy in the sport except for the World Cup.

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While many fans believe that winning a World Cup should result in a Ballon d’Or, others in Mzansi are convinced that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland deserved the big prize. 

HAALAND ‘ROBBED!’ – SA FANS

A number of South African football fans have been debating the decision to award Lionel Messi this year’s top prize when Haaland outscored him in most competitions. 

Haaland not only broke goalscoring records in England but was part of a Manchester City team that won the English Premier League, the UEFA Champion’s League and the FA Cup. 

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Upon learning that Haaland had lost to Messi, podcaster Sol Phenduka wrote on his social media pages, “Man, this boy [Haaland] was robbed. Totally !!!”

Man , this boy was robbed . Totally !!! https://t.co/eMRxziCbzH

— Solomzi Thandubuntu (@Solphendukaa) October 31, 2023

Another fan expressed their frustration, blaming favouritism for the decision. They wrote on X “As nice and encouraging these words are they don’t do justice to any of these two players. This is daylight robbery on Haaland, but as history will tell you, the award has been fixed on many occasions and that’s when the award lost its value to me.”

Despite the number of fans who disagree, Messi’s South African fans continue to celebrate another historic landmark.