“No one will be able to repeat this result in the foreseeable future.”

Lionel Messi received the eighth Ballon d’Or of his career. The award ceremony took place in Paris. Among the main contenders for the “football Oscar”, which is awarded by France Football magazine, were Erling Haaland and Killian Mbappe. The ceremony was watched by Kommersant FM sports commentator Vladimir Osipov.

A few days before the start of the ceremony, stories began to appear on the Internet that Haaland or Mbappe would win the Ballon d’Or. It seemed that the organizers were trying to somehow correct the complete lack of intrigue before the award ceremony. After all, the fact that the award was intended for Messi became known to the press almost a month before “Day X”.

From our country, football observer and analyst Konstantin Kleshchev sent his vote to France, who also voted for Messi and explained why: “We must pay tribute, Messi won his main tournament in his career, and he was the main person at this World Cup.”

So few people believed the stuffing. But the lack of intrigue did not stop Parisians from gathering in front of the Chatelet Theater in Paris. It is clear that not everyone was able to get inside. The average ticket price for the event was €7 thousand. The theater seats 3 thousand people. So the organizers will receive about €20 million from ticket sales alone. Needless to say, all the tickets were sold.

But even those who simply met football stars on the street were satisfied. The players walked the red carpet with their glamorous wives and girlfriends, signing autographs along the way. By the way, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who arrived with his beloved, young beauty Nitsa Tavadze, caused a real sensation. The girl was a little shy and constantly adjusted her dress with a deep neckline.

And the prize for the most extravagant outfit was taken by Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior. His velvet carrot jacket is beyond compare. In general, everything was arranged with due pathos. Although what was happening was more reminiscent of a closed football party, says football agent Vadim Trushkov, who lives and works in Paris:

“There is your own football crowd that you need to be in. Some people are not invited there for certain reasons. I really don’t like staged scenarios like this, when Vinicius is called in, he tells us about racism, presenter Didier Drogba hugs him, and two players from the Argentina national team win.”

It was impossible to see all this on Russian channels. The broadcast in our country was only on a few Internet resources. But by and large, the ceremony itself differed little from everything that happened in previous years. Except that the “Golden Balls” were lowered from the top of the Eiffel Tower and carried first along the Seine on a boat, and then on a racing car.

And so all the same nominations. The best young player of the year was Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid. The Lev Yashin Trophy was received by Arginina team goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Erling Haaland was named the best forward. The women’s Ballon d’Or was awarded to Barcelona and Spain football player Aitana Bonmati, and the most important trophy, as expected, was given to Messi. David Beckham announced this from the stage of the Chatelet Theater.

Now the Argentine has eight Ballon d’Or awards, and no one will be able to repeat this result in the foreseeable future. For comparison, Ronaldo, who naturally was not present at the ceremony, collected five such awards in his hands. But now that’s it, from now on the world will have new football heroes.

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