Awful Ederson & McKennie magic leave City in real UCL trouble

Saka leads wasteful Arsenal to brink of UCL last 16

Torres' two-goal salvo snatches Barca win at Dortmund

Dele Alli's Origin Story

Ashworth farce shows Man Utd in even bigger mess under Sir Jim

FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024: Tickets set to go live

'Drink and drugs' ruled out as cause of Antonio's horror car crash

'Impossible for Mbappe to be like Ronaldo' - France international facing insurmountable task

Dele posts Instagram update as he steps up injury recovery

Bellingham is balling again for Madrid - but Mbappe suffers injury

Welcome back Alisson! Keeper stars as Salah sinks Girona

City savaged after Haaland & three other players miss penalties with NO 'keeper

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Argentine icon most-decorated player in history</li><li>Now has eight Golden Balls to his name</li><li>Those trophies are housed in Catalan museum</li></ul>

Lionel Messi donates eighth Ballon d'Or to Barcelona museum - despite winning award during first season in MLS with Inter Miami

LaLiga

Barcelona

Leganes

<p>The Argentine icon <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/barcelona-hoped-messi-would-play-for-free-as-laporta-discusses-contract-talks-and-koemans-future/inc285ai0xr21cwyyb1uwxwzu" target="_blank">severed ties with La Liga giants back in 2021</a>, with a move to Paris Saint-Germain being made as a free agent. After two seasons in France, Messi <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">decided to go chasing an American dream in MLS</a> last summer.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;"><span class="affiliate-text">Watch Inter Miami with the MLS Season Pass</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Having <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-messi-lifts-world-cup-trophy-argentina-thrilling-penalty-shootout-france-goat/blt38b30d6ba3692fc1" target="_blank">inspired Argentina to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022</a>, an eighth Golden Ball was passed his way in 2023. Messi also helped Inter Miami to Leagues Cup glory – making him the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/44-trophies-lionel-messi-all-time-record-very-good-hands-inter-miami-tata-martino-historic-leagues-cup/blt4c0a84c28d5bf241 " target="_blank">most-decorated player of all-time with 44 major honours to his name</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi does not have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/south-beach-lifestyle-lionel-messi-10m-waterfront-mansion-15-minutes-inter-miami-drv-pnk-stadium/blt8e73e868927c96f3" target="_blank">enough space at home</a> to display all of his record-setting collection of trophies, with Barcelona on hand to help him out in that department. Seven of his Ballons d’Or are currently housed in the Catalan club’s official museum, and <a href="https://twitter.com/BlazquezFont/status/1759701911517757519 " target="_blank"><em>E-Noticies</em></a> has revealed that number eight is on the way.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Messi has previously said: “Everything I own is in Barcelona, there at the museum. Ballons d'Or, Golden Boots, everything.” That will remain the case despite now plying his trade in the United States, with it <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-return-barcelona-cristiano-ronaldo-anniversary-match-inter-miami-david-beckham-ronaldinho/blt793d8c22de2e883f" target="_blank">impossible for emotional and professional ties with the Blaugrana to be severed</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Lionel Messi donates eighth Ballon d'Or to Barcelona museum - despite winning award during first season in MLS with Inter Miami | Goal.com English Qatar

Lionel Messi has donated his eighth Ballon d’Or to the Barcelona museum, despite collecting that award during his first season at Inter Miami.