After winning the 2023 Ballon d'Or award on Monday night in Paris, Lionel Messi responded to being asked if he believes he is the greatest footballer of all time.
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The 36-year-old made history this week as he became the first player in history to win the accolade while representing a club, Inter Miami, outside of Europe.
Messi, also the second-oldest to scoop the prestigious individual prize, beating out opponents Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, who finished in second and third place, respectively, following a vote from 100 journalists around the world.
At the ceremony in Paris, the Argentine collected the Ballon d'Or for a record-extending eighth time, putting him three clear of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, whose last such triumph came in 2017.
During a press conference after being announced as the winner of the award's 67th edition, the former Barcelona and PSG superstar was asked if he thinks he is the sport's best player in history.
"I don't know if I'm the best," he told L'Equipe.
"I don't ask myself the question and it doesn't interest me.
"The fact that they say that I am one of the best is already an honour. All children want to play football and try to be one of the best."
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Playing his football in the United States, it is widely believed this latest Ballon d'Or win will the final one of Messi's career, with his performances for Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup ultimately proving the determining factor this time out.
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