Lionel Messi was voted as the best player in the world on Monday winning his eighth Ballon d’Or award. A new thing fans got to see is a Messi rings photo with the Inter Miami star having specially made rings for each of his Ballon d’Or wins.
The 36-year-old Argentine and adidas teamed up to make the iconic photo happen as it’s a nod to the legendary basketball star Bill Russell who passed away last year.
Russell won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966 and took a historic photo wearing all the championship rings.
That image has been recreated with the goat of soccer.
Lionel Messi rings photo
as we've told you again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again. pic.twitter.com/iUHzS6eKwo
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
countless memories, eight rings, zero doubt. pic.twitter.com/AaNIsEDZcJ
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 30, 2023
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Lionel Messi recreated the iconic Bill Russell rings photo after winning his eighth career Ballon d'Or pic.twitter.com/x4bdO9qgZA
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) October 31, 2023
Here's a closer look at each of the eight rings.
Lionel Messi's rings
2009 - "El Beso" commemorates Messi's 2009 Champions League Final goal celebration when his boot fell off during a header. The ring features the stadium, and 'El Beso' engraved on the side. pic.twitter.com/dX2EqmuSEH
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2010 - "Apunta al cielo" honors Messi's goal celebration pointing to the sky, dedicated to his late Grandmother. The ring has 'Apunta al cielo' and MMX on top, with LX on the sides, symbolizing the 60 goals he scored in 2010. pic.twitter.com/cVerQqhcIE
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2011 - "The G.O.A.T." A ring celebrating Messi's third consecutive Ballon d'Or win, with a goat image and 'Lionel Messi. The Goat.' on top, and 'G.O.A.T' on the side. pic.twitter.com/VuEZGaj5YG
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2012 - "El Año" A ring honoring Messi's record-breaking year with '91' and 'El Año' referencing his goal-scoring achievements in 2012. pic.twitter.com/NVj50Xdplw
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2015 - "La Cuarta Champions League" A ring symbolizing Messi's fourth Champions League victory with 'cuarta,' the winning years (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015) in Roman numerals, and 'Campeón' for his champion status. pic.twitter.com/WuwrhxSlOg
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2019 - "6th European Golden Boot" A ring celebrating Messi's sixth European Golden Boot award with six boots, footballs, and years (2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019) on top, and his league goal totals on the sides. pic.twitter.com/30ylrRW3CJ
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2021 - "The First International Trophy" A ring commemorating Messi's Copa América win with Argentina in 2021, featuring the national symbol, 'La Albiceleste,' and 'El Sol de Mayo' on the top. The ring features the date (10th July 2021) in Roman numerals on the edge and 'Campeón… pic.twitter.com/FYHosjP7r9
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
2023 - World Cup Triumph This ring celebrates Leo's role in Argentina's third World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022. Three stars on top symbolize the win, and 'Campeón del Mundo 2022' surrounds it. Two figures on the sides resemble those on the FIFA World Cup Trophy holding up the… pic.twitter.com/bdyE0gMNp9
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 31, 2023
It’s incredibly likely that Monday’s Ballon d’Or will be the final time Messi wins the award as the new era of players and young stars are ushered in. Messi winning the 2023 edition marks the first time in history a player active in Major League Soccer has received the honor.
He and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the sport’s spotlight winning 13 of the last 15 Ballon d’Ors. Ronaldo is the closest player to Messi’s untouchable eight with five of his own.
Perhaps the only photo that could be more iconic than the Messi rings photo is if one day Messi and Ronaldo posed for a photo will all their Ballon d’Or trophies. What a moment that would be.
