Inter Miami star Messi won an eighth Ballon d’Or trophy, but how much value should we attach to the coveted trophy each year?
Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmatí are the latest Ballon d’Or holders after receiving the prestigious accolade given to the best men and women’s soccer players worldwide every year, as voted by representative journalists from 100 participating countries.
The coveted trophies—each reportedly worth around €3,000 ($3,200) in material value—stand for the most exceptional individuals in the game, and, as customary, Monday evening saw the best talents gather in Paris, France, for the serious, yet fun-spirited, ceremony hosted by ex-striker Didier Drogba and journalist and presenter Sandy Heribert.
Messi, who left European soccer to join Inter Miami in the United States in July, was the expected successor to Karim Benzema after his role in propelling Argentina to World Cup glory last December. He beat Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland to a record-extending eighth trophy. Self-effacing Barcelona midfielder Bonmatí—another World Cup champion with Spain—followed Alexia Putellas in collecting the women’s prize, first introduced five years ago.
The occasion, decorated by record-breaking youngsters and midfield magicians, from goalscoring phenomenon Haaland to all-rounder and Kopa winner Jude Bellingham, is the standard-bearer when assessing soccer’s Kings and Queens. But just how much value should the Ballon d’Or carry?
One salient Ballon d’Or feature is tradition. Since its first edition in 1956, it has only merged with the international soccer body FIFA for five years—between 2010 and 2015—and belongs exclusively to serial organizer France Football magazine.
