Lionel Messi is savoring his historic eighth Ballon d’Or victory, and he took to Instagram to share his first family photos following the awards ceremony in Paris on Monday night.
It is no longer news that his standout performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he secured the only missing accolade in his remarkable career, gave Messi the advantage over his rivals.
Messi surpassed significant contenders, including Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Kylian Mbappe, both of whom were present at the awards ceremony on Monday night.
Reports state that the 36-year-old believes this may be his final Golden Ball award, allowing room for emerging stars to shine, after having won eight accolades over the span of 14 years.
Family holds immense importance for Messi, a sentiment he has expressed numerous times in interviews. In Paris, he was accompanied by his wife, Antonela, and their children – Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
The Argentine captain and his sons donned matching black pants and suits, while Messi wore a bow tie and black shoes, and his sons sported white sneakers to complement their outfits. His wife elegantly wore a black one-shoulder gown.
Previously, the former Barcelona captain had shared a message of appreciation, but he has now posted his initial family photograph on his Instagram page, featuring a monochromatic theme that mirrored their attire for the ceremony.
As noted by AlbicelesteTalk, he also updated his profile picture on the platform to a snapshot of him clutching his eighth award, replacing a previous family photograph.