Lionel Messi was honored by the Argentina FA just before a World Cup qualifying match against rival Uruguay for his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or award.

Messi took the field at La Bombonera to applause from the raucous crowd assembled to watch the reigning World Cup champions attempt to qualify for the 2026 event.

Argentina FA president Claudio Tapia and Boca Juniors vice president and former player Juan Roman Riquelme greeted him.

Lionel Messi was honored prior to Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay

Messi was greeted by former Argentina teammate Juan Roman Riquelme

Messi is playing the final two games of his 2023 after a hectic and busy calendar year

Messi was presented with a plaque inside a box depicting a picture of him carrying the Ballon d’Or after welcoming them both.

Messi has had a fantastic 2023 season, which will come to an end after these World Cup qualifiers.

After coming down from the high of winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi returned to his club side Paris Saint-Germain.

He won the league with the Parisiens despite a rocky relationship with the club’s fans, who were enraged when the club was eliminated from the Coupe de France and the Champions League.

Messi’s contract with Barcelona expired in the summer, and after contemplating his alternatives, he elected to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

His decision was rewarded immediately with a Leagues Cup title in the summer, but he lost in the US Open Cup final and missed the MLS Cup Playoffs.