Lionel Messi remains among the players with a strong case for the annual Ballon d’Or even after Argentina finished as runners-up at the 2026 World Cup. The award organisers again separated individual performance from the requirement of representing the champion national team.
The clarification followed controversy over Rodri being named the World Cup’s best player. France Football stated that the tournament can strengthen a candidacy, but the annual prize must recognise the best footballer across the entire season rather than only the international competition.
The message was illustrated with Messi’s image, a detail that revived discussion about his chances. Spanish candidates include Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, while Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane also arrive with important campaigns without winning the World Cup.
History provides precedents for a choice outside the champion side. Messi won in 2010 ahead of Andrés Iniesta and Xavi; Cristiano Ronaldo did so in 2014, and Luka Modric received the award in 2018 despite Croatia losing the final.
The Argentine captain’s full season will be assessed before the ceremony in London on 26 October. The runners-up finish did not end his campaign: performance, leadership and competitive continuity keep alive a candidacy that again places Argentine football at the centre of the debate.
