Ballon d'Or 2023: adidas, Messi's equipment supplier, creates 8 rings celebrating his 8 titles

"Countless memories, eight rings, zero doubts" is the caption accompanying a photo published by adidas showing Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, MLS) wearing eight rings created by the German equipment manufacturer to represent the Argentina international's eight Ballon d'Or titles, the last of which he won during the 67^th edition of the trophy, created by French magazine France Football, on 30/10/2023.

The 2022 world champion has been under contract with adidas since 2006, and has benefitted a lifetime contract (valued at $1bn/€950m) since 2017. As part of his transfer to Inter Miami (from Paris Saint-Germain, on 15/07/2023), Lionel Messi, who generated $70m (€65.6m) in sponsorship revenue in 2022 (according to Forbes), also receives a share of the revenue generated by the German brand via the sale of merchandise for the 29 MLS franchises.

The Argentinian international also has sponsorship contracts with, among others, crisp brand Lay's (PepsiCo Group) and crypto-asset trading platform Bitget, both of which were quick to congratulate him on social media (see below).

• The last four Ballons…