Messi reflects on "dream achieved" with World Cup win after eighth Ballon d'Or triumph 

Lionel Messi was awarded an eighth Ballon d'Or and in his speech, the Argentina star reflected on "achieving my dream" by winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Lionel Messi looked ahead to his remaining years on the pitch after his eighth Ballon d’Or win, and said he had achieved “my dream” in 2022. 

Upon receiving the award on stage, he joyfully stated, "I'm thrilled to be here again, relishing this moment once more. Winning the World Cup and fulfilling my dream is an incredible achievement. I'm grateful to everyone who contributed to this success." 

Regarding his future, he mentioned, "I can't predict how much longer I'll continue, but I'm inclined to savor it. As long as I'm physically fit and competitive, I'll keep going."