DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇷 Argentina /Sports

Lionel Messi named among 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • France Football named Lionel Messi among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for October 26 in London.
  • Messi’s performances at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where Argentina finished runner-up, helped return him to the shortlist after two omissions.
  • He also recorded 31 goals and 16 assists in 35 appearances for Inter Miami during 2026, while Lautaro Martínez joined him among the nominees.

Lionel Messi is back among the Ballon d’Or contenders after two editions away from the list. France Football included the Argentine among the 30 nominees for the 2026 award, bringing him back into the spotlight at 39.

What is Lionel Messi’s secret to longevity?

· Ballon d’Or official websiteThe award’s website used the question to frame Messi’s return to the list at age 39.

The ceremony will take place in London on October 26. Messi’s strongest case came from his campaign with Argentina at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The captain played a key role as the national team reached the final and finished runner-up. He scored eight goals during the tournament and again proved decisive in the most important matches.

His numbers with Inter Miami add another layer to the nomination. Messi has scored 31 goals and provided 16 assists in 35 matches during 2026. Although Major League Soccer is not considered one of the world’s strongest leagues, the figures underline his influence whenever he wears the pink shirt of Las Garzas.

His legacy as a genius was secured at a relatively young age, but one thing was certain: the Argentine was not destined to be admired around the world for his longevity.

· Ballon d’Or official websiteThe publication reflected on the unusual length of Messi’s career.

The official Ballon d’Or website presented the nomination as a question of longevity, asking: “What is Lionel Messi’s secret to longevity?” It also highlighted his “dual attacking role,” describing him as a modern number 10 and false 9 who can combine elite playmaking with goalscoring. Another cited strength was his control in tight spaces, supported by his low centre of gravity and frequent touches with his left foot.

Messi is universally considered the prototype of the modern number 10 and the false 9. He is a player capable of simultaneously leading the world’s elite in playmaking and goalscoring.

· Ballon d’Or official websiteThe website explained one of the criteria supporting Messi’s nomination.

Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023. He is not the only Argentine on this year’s list. Lautaro Martínez, after a strong season at Inter Milan and a prominent role in much of the last World Cup, also ranks among the 30 nominees. The article’s source description says Messi had recently resigned from the Argentina national team after a brilliant spell and was seeking a ninth award.

He achieved the highest historical rating for ball retention under pressure.

· Ballon d’Or official websiteThe website cited Messi’s close control as another reason for his inclusion.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog