Lionel Messi joined by his sons on phase and wishes Diego Maradona satisfied birthday in touching Ballon d’Or speech

Lionel Messi wished a coronary heart-warming content birthday to Diego Maradona in the course of his Ballon d’Or acceptance speech.

The 36-year-aged has gained his unbelievable eighth honour following a yr that observed him captain Argentina to Globe Cup glory.

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Messi finished ahead of Manchester Town giant Erling Haaland, who came 2nd, and 3rd-put Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.

His 8 Ballons d’Or are the most received by any participant in the historical past of football, with extensive-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo the closest on 5.

The Inter Miami superstar was all smiles as his title was introduced by his club’s co-operator David Beckham as the winner.

And throughout his acceptance speech, he compensated tribute to Argentina legend Maradona on what would have been his 63rd birthday.

“Where ever you are, this is also for you. Pleased birthday, Diego,” he claimed, with the crowd then offering a heat applause.

Becoming a member of Messi at the ceremony in Paris was his spouse Antonela, who has been with him for all 8 of his Ballon d’Or triumphs.

Their 3 sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, have been also in attendance and joined their Dad on stage through the relaxation of his speech.

At a single issue, Mateo, tried to hold the trophy, which is said to weight around 15kg.

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He then gave it again to Messi before they stood centre phase with Beckham and presenters Didier Drogba and Sandy Heribert.

Messi will now revel in the most up-to-date achievements of his illustrious career, with the ahead firmly recognized as an icon.

The crowd at the Theatre du Chatelet, in Paris, rose to their feet when he was introduced as the winner as football celebrated one particular of its greats.

It remains to be viewed if it will be Messi’s eighth and final award, but you can find a quite great chance that no one particular will ever major his tally.

His award came on a evening in which Jude Bellingham gained the Kopa Trophy and Erling Haaland was the recipient of the Gerd Muller Trophy.

There had been also unsavoury scenes when Emi Martinez gathered the Yachine Trophy, with a replay of his stunning Planet Cup final help you save against Randal Kolo Muani becoming fulfilled with boos from a compact minority of the group.