Argentine football star Lionel Messi, who is taking the U.S. sports world by storm as an Inter Miami player – a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner – is among the nominees for the 2023 award [the first player in the league since current Inter Miami owner David Beckham] and will become the first active MLS player to win the award if he tops the list on October 30.
Beckham is the last player to be nominated for the award while playing in MLS after making the list in 2007, three months after joining the LA Galaxy from Real Madrid.
The 2023 Ballon d’Or is judged based on performances from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. Messi played two games for Inter Miami in that period after his move from Paris Saint-Germain, meaning the award will be based on his performances for Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina.
When Beckham was nominated in 2007, the Ballon d’Or was decided on the calendar year. Messi captained Argentina to World Cup success in December 2022, scoring seven goals in seven appearances as he was named player of the tournament.
The 36-year-old is one of four Golden Ball winners to have played in MLS, joining former New York Metro Stars midfielder Lothar Matthaus, former Chicago Fire striker Hristo Stoichkov and former Orlando City midfielder Kaka.
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