As Lionel Messi got his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy, he was awarded eight gold rings which all have a different meaning by Adidas
On Monday, last week, Leo Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris, marking the most recent in a lengthy list of honours. The former Barcelona star led Argentina to a FIFA World Cup victory in Qatar last year, making his 2022–23 season one to remember.
Lionel Messi Adidas eight gold rings names and meaning
In a men’s 30-player candidate list, Inter Miami’s standout defeated Manchester City star Erling Haaland. Haaland had won the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League with Manchester City the year before.
After he won for a record-extending eighth time as the world’s best player, Adidas decided to honour the feat by giving Messi eight rings, each of which symbolised a significant turning point in his career. Meanwhile, each of these rings depicts a significant event in the Argentine Maestro’s career and tells a tale. Here is what they mean:
2009: “El Beso”
El Beso” is the first ring that honours his jubilation of kissing the Barcelona badge during the Champions League final versus Manchester United.
2010: “Apunta Al Cielo”
In the heartfelt tribute “Apunta Al Cielo,” Messi gestures to the sky as a sign of thanks and remembrance during his celebration of his grandma Celia.
2011: “GOAT”
This ring celebrates Messi’s crucial contribution to Barcelona, which is frequently voted the greatest football team in history under Pep Guardiola. He personified what it meant to be the greatest of all time.
2012: “91”
“91” stands for Lionel Messi’s finest year. It will be quite difficult to surpass Messi’s 91 goals in a single year. He gets the ring in recognition of his incredible scoring prowess.
2015: “Champions League Triumph”
Messi’s fifth ring is a tribute to the Champions League success he helped Barcelona win in 2015, their fourth consecutive championship.
2019: “Golden Shoe Excellence”
“Golden Shoe Excellence” is the sixth ring that represents Messi’s 2019 Golden Shoe victory, making him the player with the most Golden Shoe honours ever.
2021: “South American Champion”
The seventh ring commemorates Messi’s role as the MVP and leading scorer in Argentina’s Copa América win and acknowledges his influence on the global scene.
2023: “Argentina World Champion”
With Messi leading the way, Argentina’s historic triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup is symbolised by the eighth and final ring, which proudly displays three stars.