Real Madrid player makes Lionel Messi claim at Ballon d’Or ceremony

Having won the World Cup last year, Lionel Messi clinched the 8th Ballon d’Or of his career. It is a remarkable achievement to say the very least. One has to remember that before the Argentine, nobody had won the award more than three times. And while Real Madrid fans are surely not too fond of him, one cannot help but admire everything that he has done for the game. He is arguably the greatest of all time.

It was a big night for Jude Bellingham as well. The Real Madrid player won the Kopa Trophy, which recognises the best-performing player in the world under the age of 21.

There were many who questioned whether Messi deserved the Ballon d’Or this year. Erling Haaland was coming off a fantastic campaign as well, having won the Treble with Manchester City and broken the Premier League goalscoring record for a single season.

Yet, Bellingham picked Messi ahead of his former Borussia Dortmund teammate when it came to the Ballon d’Or. As reported by the Mirror, the Englishman said:

"“It’s World Cup year and Lionel Messi had a fantastic World Cup, he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.”"

Real Madrid player makes Messi claim at Ballon d’Or ceremony

The way things are going, it would not be a surprise to see Bellingham on the Ballon d’Or podium in the not-too-distant future. The Englishman has made quite the start to life at Santiago Bernabeu.

He has been pretty much unstoppable since his €134 million move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Expectations were high but Bellingham has exceeded them and then some. According to stats from Transfermarkt, he has scored 13 goals and provided 3 assists in 13 appearances for Real Madrid.

Bellingham will have to wait for his time in the spotlight though. Tonight, all we can do is congratulate Messi on his remarkable 8th Ballon d’Or. This is surely the last of the Argentine icon’s legendary career. Or is it?