France Football have made a decision regarding whether they will award Lionel Messi the Super Ballon d’Or, according to reports.
On Monday evening Messi is fancied to win the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time.
The Inter Miami attacker has been nominated for the prize after captaining Argentina to their 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, where he also netted seven goals in his seven appearances and was named player of the tournament.
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It was a moment that saw him become the ninth member of an exclusive club of players to have won the European Cup, Ballon d'Or and World Cup.
While it has been reported for days that Messi is set to win tonight’s main award ahead of Manchester City star Erling Haaland, who won the treble and netted 52 goals last term, it appears a decision has also been made regarding the Argentina star’s prospects of winning the Super Ballon d’Or.
The Super Ballon d’Or is an exclusive accolade, awarded to the finest men’s player of the past three decades. Indeed, it has only been handed out once, in 1989, to Alfredo Di Stefano.
Di Stefano netted 308 goals and claimed 17 trophies and two Ballon d’Ors across his illustrious Real Madrid career.
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And despite speculation that the Super Ballon d’Or could be awarded in 2029, with Messi likely to be the clear favourite, Marca has claimed France Football have no intention of handing out the award again.
Back in 1989, Di Stefano was selected in a vote involving fans, a France Football jury and previous winners of the Ballon d’Or, while Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini were placed second and third respectively.
At the time only European players were eligible for the trophy, meaning greats like Pele and Diego Maradona were not considered.
Should France Football perform a U-turn and hand out the Super Ballon d’Or at the end of the decade Messi is likely to be the favourite, having won seven Ballon d’Ors across three decades, claimed four Champions League trophies, 10 La Liga titles and won a World Cup and Copa America.
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Topics: Football, Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or
Chris Byfield