LIONEL MESSI scooped his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy win final night time at a glittering ceremony.
And the win means he’s formally the GOAT after shifting away from Pele on the amended all-time checklist.
Lionel Messi has eight Ballon d’Or wins to his title… and is now clear within the amended all-time checklistCredit score: AFP
Messi has pulled away from Pele’s seven awards, and is nicely forward of Diego Maradona’s twoCredit score: EPA
Messi was all smiles final night time as he pipped Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to win the Ballon d’Or for the third time in 5 years.
The Inter Miami ahead loved a spectacular yr as he captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
The win noticed Messi lengthen his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 5 Ballon d’Ors.
However the consequence additionally meant Messi lastly pulled clear within the amended all-time checklist as nicely.
READ MORE BALLON D’OR NEWS
In 2016, award organisers France Soccer revealed a brand new checklist of winners earlier than 1995.
Up till that time, solely European gamers have been eligible to win the award.
The unique victors didn’t lose their trophy.
However the outcomes astonishingly revealed that Brazil legend Pele ought to have gained an unimaginable seven instances, together with six instances in seven years.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Argentina icon Diego Maradona was additionally entitled to 2 wins.
Lastly, Brazilians Garrincha and Romario, in addition to Argentina’s Mario Kempes, additionally missed out on gongs as a consequence of being from South America.
It meant Pele was the amended all-time main winner till Messi matched him in 2021.
However after selecting up Ballon d’Or No8 final night time, the Barcelona legend is now the undisputed GOAT within the checklist.
Followers reacted to the information, with one saying: “The best there’s, the best there was and the best there’ll ever be.”
One famous: “I didn’t even know Pele gained that many!”
One other declared: “Now the controversy is over, Messi is the GOAT.”
One added: “Ronaldo not even prime two of all time.”