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<\/div>\nArgentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has won the Men\u2019s Ballon d\u2019Or for an eighth time.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old was recognised at the ceremony in Paris after helping his country win the World Cup in Qatar last year.<\/p>\n
England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy for the world\u2019s best player aged under 21.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Messi won his record-extending Ballon d\u2019Or award ahead of Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment,\u201d Messi said. \u201cTo be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain star added: \u201cI couldn\u2019t imagine having the career I\u2019ve had and everything I\u2019ve achieved, the fortune I\u2019ve had to be part of the best team in history.\u201d<\/p>\n Norway international Haaland scored a record-breaking 36 goals in 35 league games and hit 52 in all competitions as City won the Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.<\/p>\n He was recognised for his achievements with the Gerd Muller Trophy for best goalscorer.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to thank Manchester City, the whole club,\u201d said Haaland.<\/p>\n \u201cI also want to thank my family and all the people around me for making me who I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ballon d\u2019Or recognises the best footballer of the year and is voted for by 100 journalists from around the world.<\/p>\n As well as helping Argentina to World Cup glory, Messi also played a key role as Inter Miami won their first trophy \u2013 the Leagues Cup \u2013 and has scored 11 goals in 14 appearances for the Major League Soccer side.<\/p>\n He has now won three more Ballon d\u2019Or awards than anyone else, with Cristiano Ronaldo having won it five times, most recently in 2017.<\/p>\n The Portugal international, who plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was not named on the shortlist for the first time since 2003.<\/p>\n Argentina World Cup winner and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper in the world.<\/p>\n Martinez won the Golden Glove in Qatar, saving a spot-kick from Kingsley Coman in the 4-2 penalty shootout win against France.<\/p>\n He also helped Aston Villa finish seventh in the Premier League and secure a place in the Europa Conference League.<\/p>\n However, Martinez was jeered by some of the crowd at the Paris ceremony. The goalkeeper\u00a0was criticised\u00a0for this celebration after winning the World Cup against France last year.<\/p>\n Manchester City were named the club of the year at the awards for the second year running.<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola\u2019s side became only the second English team to win the Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season.<\/p>\n They had seven players shortlisted for the men\u2019s Ballon d\u2019Or award.<\/p>\n Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr received the Socrates Award for his contribution off the field and vowed to keep speaking out against racism in world football.<\/p>\n Vinicius has been the target of racist abuse regularly in La Liga games for the past two seasons.<\/p>\n He was recognised for starting a foundation that is building schools in impoverished areas and investing in education in Brazil.<\/p>\n \u201cI will remain strong in the fight against racism,\u201d said the Brazilian. \u201cIt is a very sad thing to talk about racism nowadays, but we have to continue in the fight so that people suffer less.\u201d<\/p>\n Former England and Manchester United midfielder presented the men\u2019s Ballon d\u2019Or to Messi, but before announcing the winner he paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton.<\/p>\n The England World Cup winner died at the age of 86 earlier this month.<\/p>\n \u201cI probably don\u2019t have to tell this room how special Sir Bobby was to the world of football,\u201d Beckham said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was respected on the field for what he won but was respected even more off the field for what he stood for.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will be missed. When we looked up into the stands he would always be there cheering us on.<\/p>\n \u201cHe started it off for me. If it was not for Sir Bobby turning around to Manchester United and saying \u2018watch this young man\u2019 I probably would not have played for Manchester United.<\/p>\n \u201cI owe him everything.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/_131572198_lionelmessi.jpg\")
Messi moves further out in front of the rest<\/h3>\n
Martinez recognised as world\u2019s best goalkeeper<\/h3>\n
Manchester City win club of year award<\/h3>\n
Vinicius Jr recognised as he vows to fight against racism<\/h3>\n
Beckham pays tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton<\/h3>\n
![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/_131572195_gettyimages-1765735654.jpg\")