City FC Treble star Erling Haaland congratulates Messi for winning his record eighth Ballon d'Or

On Tuesday, October 31, the 67th annual Ballon d'Or ceremony took place at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France. Most significantly, Lionel Messi set a record by winning his 8th Ballon d’Or. The 36-year-old played a key role for Argentina in lifting the FIFA World Cup 2022 last year. Manchester United star Erling Haaland finished second after having a great season with Manchester United.

3 things you need to know

• Lionel Messi won his 8th Ballon d’Or
• Erling Haaland finished runners-up of the Ballon d’Or 2023 
• Kylian Mbappe finished third in the Ballon d’Or 2023

Also Read: Messi reflects on his battle with Ronaldo

Erling Haaland gives Lionel Messi a note of congratulations

Even though he was the runner-up in the Ballon d'Or competition, Erling Haaland showed sportsmanship by congratulating Lionel Messi. In a Tuesday event in Paris, the Argentine celebrity won his ninth Ballon d'Or, setting a new record. Haaland sent Messi a poignant message on social media, expressing his appreciation and adoration for him.

Haaland, the goal-scoring superstar, showed his sportsmanship by extending a heartfelt congratulations to Messi, the eventual recipient of the coveted Ballon d'Or award in Paris. Haaland sent a message on his Instagram story along with Messi's post of the Golden Ball.

"Felicitaciones @LEOMESSI," which translates to 'Congratulations.'  

This thoughtful gesture showcased the respect and admiration that transcends competition in the world of football.

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Haaland was unstoppable last season

Erling Haaland ended up in second place in the Ballon d'Or race despite his excellent 52 goals scored in various tournaments and his incredible treble success with Manchester City. The 36-year-old Lionel Messi took home the top prize after helping Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar the previous year. Despite the intense competition, Messi's standing internationally turned out to be a deciding factor.

Looking ahead, Messi showed his humility and sportsmanship by accepting the coveted accolade for the eighth time in his distinguished career. He praised Haaland's outstanding performance from the previous year, even going so far as to suggest that the City player would have been a deserving recipient of the award this year. This action revealed Haaland's tremendous talent and future in the football world, in addition to highlighting Messi's compassion.