Lionel Messi predicts future Ballon d’Or contenders as he collects eighth award

Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet. The Argentine’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory made him the odds-on favorite, and eventually, the award went to him.

Behind Messi were Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé, who came in second and third place, respectively. 

Messi spoke after winning the honor and noted that Haaland and Mbappé’s time will come when they’re battling for the Ballon d’Or.

“They are two extraordinary players,” Messi said. “I shared two years in the same club (at PSG) with Kylian Mbappé. I know his talent, his immense talent.

“He is a player still very young. Both are still young. In the future, we will find them again. Haaland also has an extraordinary career. I am convinced that they will also be winners of the Ballon d’Or very soon.” 

This ceremony was also the end of an era. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won’t dominate the award beginning in 2024. Now it will be up to the Norwegian and Frenchmen to carry that torch and see if either can run off winning the award at a frequent pace.

Messi also revealed the players that he expects to compete for the Ballon d’Or in the coming years. “For a few years, we have seen players that can win it coming through,” Messi added.

“It could be hotly contested in the coming years with players like Haaland, Mbappé and Vinicíus Juinor. There are lots of young players that will fight for the Ballon d’Or. I also think that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young but who has already played very well with Barcelona and has become an important player [could compete]. There will certainly be others who will fight for it as well with other players yet to appear. It will be a new era.”