Glory with Argentina: “I thank my national-team team-mates. I'm representing all of my team-mates. This is a gift for the whole group, the coaching staff and for the Argentines.”
Other Ballon d'Or finalists: “I don't want to forget Haaland or Mbappé. Haaland had an amazing year and won everything going. In the coming years, they’ll both win this award. I see a lot of young players coming through, and I’ll have to watch on from the other side and will be able to enjoy football for a long time thanks to such players. I’ve been fortunate to be in this room for many years.”
Support: “I want to mention all those who’ve followed my career and those who were keen to see me become a world champion. I received a lot of love from people from different countries. I want to share this award with my family in Argentina and my wife and my children."
Dedication to Diego: “And I want to mention Diego. There’s no better place to wish him a happy birthday than here with all of you people from within the game. Wherever you are, ‘Happy birthday, Diego!'”
Award for efforts: “I never imagined I’d have the career I have. I’m lucky enough to have achieved everything in football, which is no mean feat. I was at the best club in the world and in the history of the game and that made things more straightforward. I won many trophies there. I have been part of many defeats with Argentina, but I never gave up trying to win the Copa América and the World Cup. I feel very proud of having kept on going.”
