After winning his eighth Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi collaborated with adidas to recreate an iconic shot of NBA star Bill Russell. The Inter Miami star made MLS history by becoming the first player from the league to win the Golden Ball. Adidas, on the other hand, discovered the ideal approach to honour the great.
The Argentine captain added to his legendary legacy by earning the Golden Ball award for the ninth time in his career. The achievement came after bringing his country to their third World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Messi’s success is being highly hailed in the United States, where he has firmly established himself as a fan favourite since his summer transfer to Inter Miami.
adidas assisted Lionel Messi in paying tribute to Russell, the late NBA star and American sports icon, to honour the historic victory. As a result, he received eight golden rings. The Inter Miami forward replicated Russell’s famous stance from a picture in 1996 by posing with his hands between his face and the eight rings on his fingers.
Russell’s legacy as a champion is as important in NBA history as Messi’s is in international football. He was a dominant force in the NBA for 13 seasons, guiding the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 NBA titles. This includes the unusual feat of winning eight straight championships from 1959 to 1966. No other squad has won more than three consecutive titles.
Messi is presently taking a vacation from football to celebrate winning the Ballon d’Or. He will return to club play before the start of the new MLS season in February.
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