Watch: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami teammates greet him after record-extending 8th Ballon d'Or win

Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time on Monday after fulfilling his life’s ambition by leading Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar last year.

On Tuesday he flew back from Paris to Florida and arrived to a hero's welcome by his Inter Miami teammates.

A year after missing out on the shortlist for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, and despite leaving top-level European soccer behind, Messi has recovered his crown.

The 36-year-old Argentinian won ahead of Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and his former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe.

Messi's latest win marked the first time a Major League Soccer-based player got such recognition. Messi received the trophy from former Manchester United star David Beckham, who is one of the owners of his new club.

Messi won the sport’s biggest individual prize due to his tremendous World Cup. In Qatar, he was involved in 10 goals for Argentina, scoring seven and assisting three. He scored twice in the final against France.

Nobody else has won more than five Ballon d’Or. Cristiano Ronaldo has five, and Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten each won it three times.

Since moving to Inter Miami in the United States, Messi has already picked up his first silverware there by inspiring the team to victory in the U.S. Leagues Cup.