Does former Barça star Messi prefer the Champions League and World Cup, or the Ballon d’Or and Golden Boot?

Coming as a surprise to absolutely nobody, Inter Miami playmaker Lionel Messi recently received yet another nomination for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, generally regarded as soccer’s most prestigious and valuable individual award, handed out to the best player on the planet over the last year or so.

The Argentina captain, who led his nation to victory at the 2022 World Cup, is the hot favourite to get his hands on the trophy once more, ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League-winning striker Erling Haaland.

How many times has Messi won the FIFA Ballon d’Or?

Messi could win the award for an eighth time (he already holds the record ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo) in Paris on 30 October but emphasised that team prizes are much more important to him in a wide-ranging interview with Argentine actor and comedian Migue Granados on streaming channel Olga TV.

How many club trophies has the Inter Miami forward won?

Luckily for the 36-year-old, he has enjoyed the best of both worlds in his career, winning a total of 44 trophies with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina, including 12 league titles and four Champions Leagues, in addition to last year’s World Cup.

“I’ve said before that it’s nice to get that recognition. But I’m fortunate enough to have won everything, the Champions League, league titles, the Copa América, the World Cup. Those are the most important trophies. It’s nice to win individual awards and be rewarded, but the others are the important ones”, Messi explained.

Messi memorabilia not in Miami

Messi also revealed that his World Cup winners’ medal, along with his Golden Boots and Ballon d’Or trophies, are at his home in Barcelona rather than in Miami.

“Everything I have from my career is in Barcelona - balls, Golden Boots, Ballon d’Or trophies, jerseys, everything”.

Watch Messi, Miami and the rest of MLS on AppleTV, which offers a free trial