Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, has been selected by Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski as the candidate to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
On December 18, in Qatar, Messi captured the pinnacle of his professional football career by winning the FIFA World Cup 2022.
After a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes at the Lusail Stadium, the Paris Saint-Germain forward scored twice in extra time as Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final on penalties.
Lewandowski believes for that reason, Messi is now the favourite player to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or ahead of France forward Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the Poland international said (via Barca Universal): “Of course. There is maybe one more player [Mbappe] playing for the same club, but there is only one World Cup that decides who is going to win it [Ballon d’Or] this season, and Leo [Messi] is now in the top position for sure because of what he has achieved which means everything to him.
“Now he can enjoy it,” the former Bayern Munich star said.