Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, has been named Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2023, following his remarkable achievements for club and country. Messi, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, led Argentina to their first World Cup title in 36 years, and also won the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time in his career.
A dream come true for Messi
Messi’s crowning moment came on December 3, 2023, when he lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar, after Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties in a thrilling final. Messi scored twice in the 3-3 draw, including a stunning free-kick in the 90th minute to force extra time. He also converted his spot-kick in the shootout, and was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Messi scored seven goals in seven games at the World Cup, and also provided four assists.
Messi said after the final that winning the World Cup was his lifelong dream, and that he was proud to have achieved it with his teammates. “It’s everyone’s dream when they’re little. I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything and what I was missing, I found here,” he said. “I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so.”
Messi also dedicated the victory to his family, his fans, and his former club Barcelona, where he spent 21 years before joining Paris St-Germain in 2021. “I want to thank my family, who always supported me and gave me the strength to keep going. I want to thank all the people who love me and follow me. And I want to thank Barcelona, who gave me everything and made me the player I am today,” he said.
A stellar year for Messi
Messi’s World Cup triumph was the culmination of a stellar year for the 36-year-old, who also won the Ballon d’Or in October, beating his rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski. Messi became the first player to win the prestigious award eight times, extending his record. He also won the Best Fifa Men’s Player of the Year award in February, and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year award in December.
Messi’s individual accolades were matched by his impressive performances for his club, Paris St-Germain, where he formed a formidable partnership with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Messi helped PSG win the Ligue 1 title in 2022, and also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they lost to eventual winners Real Madrid. Messi scored 27 goals and provided 18 assists in 49 games for PSG in 2021-22, and has already netted 12 times and assisted 14 times in 19 games in 2022-23.
Messi also made history by becoming the first player to score in every World Cup qualifier, as he led Argentina to the top of the South American group with 10 goals in 14 games. He also scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Brazil in the Superclasico de las Americas in June, and was named the best player of the Copa America, where Argentina finished third.
A legend of the game
Messi’s achievements in 2023 have cemented his status as a legend of the game, and have earned him praise from his peers, his coaches, and his fans. Messi’s former Barcelona teammate and current PSG coach, Xavi Hernandez, said that Messi was “the best player in history”, and that he was “a genius, a phenomenon, a magician”. Messi’s Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, who was named Time magazine’s Coach of the Year, said that Messi was “a blessing for football”, and that he was “an example for everyone”. Messi’s fans around the world celebrated his success, and hailed him as “the GOAT” (greatest of all time).
Time magazine said that Messi was chosen as the Athlete of the Year because he “managed to do what once seemed impossible, when he signed with Inter Miami: turning the US into a soccer country”. The magazine also said that Messi “inspired millions of people with his skill, his passion, and his humility”, and that he “showed that dreams can come true, even for a boy from Rosario who was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 10”.
Messi said that he was honored and grateful to receive the award, and that he hoped to continue playing at the highest level for as long as possible. He also said that he would like to return to Barcelona one day, and that he had not ruled out playing in the next World Cup in 2026, when he will be 39 years old. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I always try to enjoy the present and give my best. I love football, and I want to keep playing as long as I can,” he said.
