FC Barcelona have had the honor of having various all-time greats donning the Blaugrana colors at some point in time. The likes of Diego Maradona, Ronaldo Nazario, Johan Cruyff, and others have all represented Barcelona at different points.
However, regardless of how great a player may have been, perhaps none hold a candle to a certain Argentinian. Hailed originally as Maradona’s heir, he is now his undeniable successor.
Lionel Messi remains the greatest player that FC Barcelona has ever had the privilege of calling their own. Now playing for Inter Miami, he will remain immortalized in the colors of Barça.
Messi is Infinite
The La Masia graduate, already buried within accolades, has recently achieved a new milestone. Already the record holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, he has now managed to add to his already impressive collection.
In the latest iteration of the ceremony organized by France Football, Lionel Messi was crowned the Ballon d’Or winner. An award given to the best male footballer of the year, Messi now adds an 8th to his previous collection of seven.
Unprecedented and unrivaled, the Barcelona legend has no peers when it comes to his Ballon D’or achievements. The closest rival is Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo, but even he possesses only five compared to Messi’s eight.
Aitana and Barcelona Femini
The Ballon d’Or ceremony also saw other Barcelona stars take some awards home. The club’s delegation went to Paris with several players accompanying President Joan Laporta.
Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona Femini took home the prestigious women’s Ballon d’Or. This meant that both Ballon D’or winners this year were La Masia graduates, making them a source of pride for La Blaugrana.
Barcelona also took home the award for Best Women’s Club of the Year. Having won both domestic and continental silverware last season, Barcelona Femini were deserving winners of the award.
These awards marked another eventful Ballon D’or ceremony for Barcelona, a club that is all too familiar with the occasion.
As for Lionel Messi himself, this marks the third decade the Argentine has won a Ballon d’Or. Having won the award previously in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021, he now adds his latest achievement from 2023 to that list as well.
