Haaland, Mbappe both deserved the Ballon d’Or this year — Lionel Messi concedes after clinching 8th title.

Lionel Messi clinched his eighth Ballon d’Or, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

The Argentine sensation, who led his national team to their first World Cup victory since 1986 in Qatar, claimed the prestigious accolade once again.

This time, he managed to edge out formidable competition in the form of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

The award presentation was made all the more special as Inter Miami owner, David Beckham, did the honors. Following the presentation, Lionel Messi delivered a heartfelt speech expressing his gratitude and paying tribute to key figures in his life and the football world.

For English speakers, Messi’s words can be translated as follows:

“Thanks to everyone, especially my teammates. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. This Ballon d’Or is a great gift for all of Argentina.

“I don’t want to forget Haaland or Mbappé, who had a great year, spectacular, and in the coming years, they will win this award.

“The level [of competition] never decreases, I have been lucky to be here for many years. I want to provide a special mention for all those people who were happy that Argentina became world champions.

“Thanks also to all my family, my wife, my children, for being there in the worst moments, and they have helped me fulfill my dreams in football. Without you, it would not have been possible.

“I want to make one last mention of Maradona. Happy birthday, I think there is no better place than here to congratulate him, full of players and with a ball. This Ballon d’Or is also yours and that of all of Argentina.”

Lionel Messi also reflected on the importance of teamwork and the recognition of his colleagues, stating,

“All the awards have been special, but I always emphasize the importance of the team. This is secondary.”

He didn’t forget to highlight the excellence of clubs like Manchester City, who have excelled in recent seasons, while acknowledging his fortune in being part of the world’s best teams.

He acknowledged the fierce competition among younger players and commended both Haaland and Mbappe, stating,

“It’s going to be a nice fight between the two of them and between several other younger players around here. They both deserved it this year.”

Chelsea reportedly risk facing ghosts of its past as new investigations over its transfer moves for Willian and Samuel Eto’o under the former ownership of Roman Abramovich comes into light.

In a startling development, the Premier League is contemplating the possibility of deducting points from Chelsea Football Club following the club’s self-reporting of alleged undisclosed payments associated with the transfers of Willian and Samuel Eto’o.

This revelation has triggered an inquiry into potential financial breaches at Stamford Bridge.

Interestingly, it was the Todd Boehly consortium, the new owners who assumed control of Chelsea in May 2022, who reported these controversial deals to the league authorities.

Their acquisition of the club came on the heels of the UK government imposing sanctions on former owner Roman Abramovich in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Previously, Chelsea faced a fine of £8.6 million from UEFA for submitting “incomplete financial information” spanning from 2012 to 2019.

However, recent reports from The Times suggest that the situation may worsen as the transfers of Willian and Eto’o, who joined Chelsea from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013, are now under intense scrutiny.

Financial records have raised concerns, indicating that payments were made by Chelsea to offshore companies and “Russian entities,” separate from any standard transfer fees.

Notably, Willian was secured for a reported £30 million from Anzhi, while Eto’o arrived at Chelsea on a free transfer. Importantly, there is no implication that either player had knowledge of these concealed payments.

Nigeria’s beloved Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri, recently reached out to her vast legion of fans and followers for assistance as she grapples with a potentially fraudulent business deal.

In a candid social media post, the talented actress recounted her ordeal, shedding light on her frustrating experience in dealing with a company she believes may be attempting to defraud her of her hard-earned money.

Ruth Kadiri shared her story, revealing that she had engaged in a business transaction with a manufacturer of body shapers and waist trainers.

Despite her numerous attempts to receive the products she had ordered, they were never delivered to her. The situation left her deeply disappointed and disheartened, especially in the challenging economic climate of the country.

In her plea to the company, Kadiri implored them to either fulfill the delivery of the merchandise or refund her money.

She expressed her frustration and sadness at becoming the target of potential scammers, emphasizing the growing difficulty in establishing trust in today’s world. To her dismay, none of her attempts at communication with the company were met with a response.

Taking to her social media platform, Ruth Kadiri sought assistance from her dedicated fans and supporters in the hopes of recovering her funds.

Along with a receipt indicating the transfer she made to the company, she wrote:

“Pls help me beg them to deliver my product or refund me! The economy is hard o! Jesu! No responding to my messages anymore!!!! ‘Trust is hard these days o.’”