Lionel Messi set to win his eighth Ballon d’Or award

Lionel Messi is reportedly set to win his eighth Ballon d’Or, beating Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the prestigious award.

He is poised to become the first player playing outside the top leagues in Europe to bag the coveted award.

The 36-year-old has been leading the race for the 2023 Ballon d’Or after he led Argentina to success at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The former Barcelona star scored seven goals in seven matches, including two in the final against France.

The experienced forward joined Inter Miami this summer following the expiration of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi has made a huge impact at the American club as they went on an impressive run after his arrival at the DRV PNK Stadium.

The Argentine has scored 11 goals in 13 appearances across all competitions for the Miami outfit.

According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Messi will likely win his eighth Ballon d’Or at the end of the month.

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati is expected to claim the women’s iteration of the award.

Bonmati played a crucial role in helping Spain win the Women’s World Cup in Australia earlier this year.

The 25-year-old also bagged the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.

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