Fabulously "Spotted": Lionel Messi in Dolce & Gabbana at Ballon d'Or - Men's Folio
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Fabulously “Spotted”: Lionel Messi in Dolce & Gabbana at Ballon d’Or

  • By Men's Folio

Scoring a record-busting hat-trick-plus-one was Argentinian wunderkind Lionel Messi, who holds claim to being the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time and a fearless style champ to (soccer) boot.

In Zurich to get his paws on the 2012 trophy, the Barcelona and Argentina forward echoed the shape of his “golden globe” with a custom black satin tuxedo by Dolce and Gabbana that was festooned with exuberant white polka dots. The single button contrast collar peak lapel head-turner was paired with a matching bow-tie and a velvet trimmed tuxedo pant—a whole lot of look.

In a rough-and-tumble sport where jeers can ring as raucously as cheers, it must have taken Messi a lot of balls, so to speak, to don such a flamboyant, divisive outfit (the online football community has slung some pretty awful epithets in describing Messi’s wardrobe choice.)To hell with ’em. We applaud Messi for sticking to his guns because frankly, with his string of professional accolades, he can pretty darn well wear what he pleases.

The Fifa Ballon d’Or, an award that was inaugurated in 1991, means that even legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona aren’t on the roll call, making Messi the man to beat. And by capping 2012 with a stunning 91 goals in 69 games, the good many “balls” on his tuxe could stand in for the number of goals the man’s bound to score in future. Felicitaciones, Messi—and we’ll see you at next year’s ceremony!