How many times has Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or? Past trophy wins for Argentina star
Lionel Messi is expected to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or award despite making a summer move out of Europe to join Inter Miami on a free transfer.
Messi opted to accept a switch to Florida, following the expiration of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, with the veteran forward enjoying an impressive start to life in the USA.
However, despite no longer competing in the Champions League, a change in Ballon d'Or voting criteria from 2022 means he is in line to win the 2023 award, ahead of Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland.
Ballon d'Or voting now focuses on the previous season, not the calendar year, and Messi's inspirational leading of Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title could be the defining factor.
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Messi is the most successful player in Ballon d'Or history with seven titles won from 2009 to 2021 ahead of old rival Cristiano Ronaldo on five.
Six of Messi's Ballon d'Or title wins came as a Barcelona player with his 2021 award coming months after joining PSG.
After finishing third in 2007 and second in 2008, Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009, before going on to win the award for the following three successive years.
Messi won just one Ballon d'Or from 2013 to 2016, as Ronaldo won three, with their rivalry taking on a new level as Barcelona and Real Madrid continued to go head-to-head for trophies.
However, as the duo began to move into the latter years of their careers, with Ronaldo's last win coming in 2017, Messi clinched the award again in 2019 and 2021.
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