“Until the day he retires, he will be in the fight to win the Ballon d’Or” – Ex-Barcelona forward makes emphatic Lionel Messi claim

Former Barcelona and Argentina forward Javier Saviola has backed Lionel Messi to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or and claimed that the 36-year-old will always be a contender for the award.

France Football will announce the winner of football's highest individual honor later this month on 30 October. Messi is once again the front-runner to win the award after leading Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory in 2022.

A triumph this year would mark Messi's record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or. Saviola expressed his support for his compatriot, saying (via BeSoccer):

"As an Argentinian, we obviously want it to be Messi . We are all such a fan of Léo. We know that until The day he retires, he will be in the fight to win the Ballon d’Or."

Saviola further talked about how Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated the Ballon d'Or for the better part of the last 15 years. He said:

"He and Cristiano Ronaldo showed us that modern football was only a story between them , they divided practically all the Ballons between themselves for 10 or 15 years. And I think winning a World Cup puts you in a very high place. Personally, I would love for him to win the Ballon d'Or again this year."

Apart from Messi, Erling Haaland is a strong contender to win the Ballon d'Or in 2023. The Norwegian striker scored 52 goals across competitions for Manchester City last season as Pep Guardiola's side won the historic European treble.

Lionel Messi's take on Karim Benzema winning the 2022 Ballon d'Or revealed

Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or in 2022 after having a stellar campaign with Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season. The Frenchman won the individual accolade for the first time in his career last year.

In a yet-to-be-broadcast documentary by L'Equipe, "Ballon d'Or 2022: the race towards eternity," Lionel Messi gave his take on Benzema winning the prize. Messi said (quotes via GOAL):

"I think Benzema was a fair winner. He deserves it for the great year he had and what he has been doing throughout his career. He is a wonderful player and I think it is important for him and for soccer that he has this recognition."

Benzema had a phenomenal 2021-22 season, scoring 44 goals and providing 15 assists in 46 matches across competitions. He helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and La Liga.