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**Lionel Messi Wins Seventh Ballon d’Or, Breaks Own Record**

In a ceremony held in Paris, France, on Monday evening, Lionel Messi was crowned the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, a prestigious annual award given to the world’s best soccer player. The Argentine forward, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, claimed the award for the seventh time in his illustrious career, surpassing his own record.

This latest victory marked a sixth consecutive win for Messi, who has dominated the award in recent years. The 36-year-old has been in phenomenal form, leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and scoring a record-breaking 86 goals in all competitions for club and country in the past calendar year.

Messi’s record-breaking performance has been all the more impressive given the stiff competition he faced from other top players. Among the nominees were Kylian Mbappé, who finished second in the voting, and Erling Haaland, who finished third. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, and Robert Lewandowski were also shortlisted for the award.

The Ballon d’Or is voted on by a panel of international sports journalists, who assess a player’s performance over the past year. The award is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual honor in the soccer world.

In a statement, Messi paid tribute to his team-mates, coaches, and family members, saying: “I’m overwhelmed with emotion, but also proud to be part of this incredible journey. This award is not just a recognition of my own efforts, but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone around me.”

With this latest win, Messi cements his status as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. As he continues to defy age and push the boundaries of human performance, fans and pundits alike will be eagerly watching to see what he achieves next.