Ballon d'Or 2023: An unforeseen chapter in the everlasting argument between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi extended his lead by winning the coveted Ballon d'Or for the ninth time.
Is it the end of the debate about which giant is superior?
On Monday night, David Beckham opened the little black card and read out the name of the man who had won the 2023 Ballon d"Or for men's football.
He read aloud Lionel Messi's name, who is also the current face of Inter Miami, the American football team Beckham owns.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated football for nearly two decades now
It was all too familiar for him. He had, after all won the coveted trinket seven times before that over the course of the previous two decades of the 21st century as well.
Messi had first won the trophy in 2009 and his last victory came in 2021.
It was widely believed that the ceremony last year marked the beginning of a new era
Ronaldo will not be in contention to win the title that they had made their own over the course of their illustrious careers.
And yet, a year later, here we are, seeing the Argentine superstar holding that trophy for the cameras