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Lionel Messi and his ex-Navy SEAL bodyguard pose with the Ballon d'Or on a private jet as the Inter Miami star flies back from Paris after winning the prestigious award for an eighth time

Lionel Messi and his Ballon d'Or were in safe hands Monday night as the World Cup winner flew back from Paris with his bodyguard in tow.

The Inter Miami star picked up his eighth Ballon d'Or during a ceremony in the French capital Monday night beating Manchester City's 52-goal star Erling Haaland to the prestigious soccer award.

But the Argentine wasted no time sticking around in Paris - the home of his former club Paris Saint-Germain - as he and his family seemingly flew back to the United States in the early hours of Tuesday morning.