Get ready to meet the new contender for the Ballon d’Or 2023, who is just as impressive as football legend Lionel Messi. This upcoming public figure is causing jealousy among both Mbappe and Haaland, as they may not be the ones stealing the coveted Golden Ball trophy from Messi after all. Check out the photo gallery to get a glimpse of this rising star.

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Lionel Messi gave a heartfelt speech as he received his eighth Golden Ball championship during his career. The host of the awards ceremony, Didier Drogba, asked Messi’s three children to come up on stage so they could celebrate with their father. The announcement was made and they joined him shortly after.

Regrettably, one out of the trio of boys, Mate Messi, couldn’t resist adding some humor to the situation when he snatched the Golden Ball from his brother Lionel Messi’s grasp. Mate Messi happens to be the youngest among the Messi siblings. However, the second member of the Messi clan promptly handed it over to their father without any delay.

When Lionel Messi secured his eighth career title, Mate may have been the least thrilled about it. This was mainly because Mate was known to be a big supporter of Messi’s rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. As the son of “el pulga,” Mate used to entertain his father with his own jokes and make him emotional by shedding tears after every loss.

At present, Mateo Messi can only observe helplessly as his father surpasses Ronaldo in the number of Golden Ball titles. CR7 has been honored with this award five times and it is highly likely that there will be no more opportunities to equalize the gap. Unfortunately, this may also mark the end of an era for fans, as it could be the last time Lionel Messi receives the Golden Ball award after a 15-year era between Ronaldo and Messi.

It’s pretty clear that in the upcoming Golden Ball race, Kylіаn Mbарре and Erlіng Hааlаnd will be the ones to watch. However, let’s not overlook Jude Bellіnghаm who has also demonstrated a strong competitive edge when compared to his more experienced peers. He’s been delivering some impressive performances on the field, especially in his recent match against Real Madrid.