World Cup final: Messi may equal Ronaldo’s unique football record

Lionel Messi has the opportunity to equal a distinctive record held by Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazário during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Should Argentina successfully defend their title against Spain on Sunday, Messi would claim his second World Cup trophy.

This victory would also make Messi only the second player in football history to achieve the remarkable feat of winning at least two FIFA World Cups and two Ballon d'Or awards. Currently, Ronaldo Nazário stands as the sole player to have accomplished this, having won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002, alongside his Ballon d'Or titles in 1997 and 2002.

Messi, who has already amassed a record eight Ballon d'Or awards, lifted his first World Cup in Qatar four years ago. The upcoming final presents him with a chance to mirror Ronaldo's achievement if Argentina emerges victorious against Spain.

The rarity of this record is attributed to the historical timing of major international successes and the evolution of the Ballon d'Or award. While players like Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthäus won multiple World Cups, they were not eligible for the Ballon d'Or during their playing careers as the award was initially restricted to European footballers until 1995. This change allowed non-European stars like Ronaldo and Messi to compete for and win the prestigious individual award, making the dual achievement more attainable in modern football.