In what was clearly as much of a surprise for adidas as it was for the rest of the world, Lionel Messi scooped his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or award last night, and to commemorate his wins, the Three Stripes presented him with a set of exclusive rings, marking each one of his wins.
Having completed football by guiding Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, no one could really argue with Lionel Messi scooping his latest Ballon d’Or award. While the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe must be sick of the sight of the 36-year-old at the podium, one has to wonder if this eighth time will finally be his last. Whether it is or not, eight Ballon d’Or’s is one hell of a record, and one that will likely never be broken. It’s something that adidas will be only too aware of, and they and the player will revel in this latest win, and rightly so. As part of the celebrations, the German brand produced eight unique 14 karat gold championship rings honouring Messi’s achievements, following on from last year's seven golden GOATS.
Each ring features bespoke details, nodding to key achievements or markers for that year, so for 2012 there’s the call out to his 91 goals for the calendar year, while the 2023 version nods at the World Cup win. Later this year, each ring will be available for auction, with all proceeds going to charities that will be selected by Messi and adidas.
2009: "El Beso" The first ring pays homage to Messi's electrifying celebration in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United, where he kissed the Barcelona badge in jubilant triumph.
2010: "Apunta Al Cielo" The second ring is a touching tribute to Messi's mystical celebration dedicated to his grandmother, Celia, pointing to the sky as a symbol of remembrance and gratitude.
2011: "GOAT" This ring glorifies Messi's integral role in Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, often regarded as the best football team in history. He epitomised the ethos of the greatest of all time.
2012: "91" A historic record-setting year for Messi, where he scored an astonishing 91 goals in a calendar year, stands as the cornerstone of the fourth ring, celebrating his incredible scoring prowess.
2015: "Champions League Triumph" Messi's fifth ring honours his victory in the 2015 Champions League, where he helped Barcelona secure their fourth title in the competition.
2019: "Golden Shoe Excellence" The sixth ring marks Messi's achievement in winning his last Golden Shoe in 2019, making him the player with the most Golden Shoe awards in history.
2021: "South American Champion" Messi's role as the MVP and top scorer in Argentina's Copa América victory is celebrated in the seventh ring, recognising his impact on the international stage.
2023: "Argentina World Champion" The eighth and final ring proudly bears three stars, symbolising Argentina's historic victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Messi at the helm
There's also going to be a signature Messi Ballon d'Or boot... more on that to come.
