Madrid’s Ballon d’Or conversation has been given a clear voice by Diego Simeone, with the Atlético de Madrid coach backing Lionel Messi to take the 2026 award despite the Argentine now playing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Simeone backs Messi for 2026 Ballon d’Or
“Messi, unquestionably,” Simeone said. “After the World Cup he had, at his age, there is no question for me: Messi.”
The award race has opened without a single overwhelming favourite. Messi’s case rests heavily on his World Cup campaign, where he scored eight times and carried Argentina to another final, the third World Cup final appearance of his career.
Argentina’s captain delivered major performances against Egypt and England, but could not decide the final as Spain claimed the trophy. That World Cup victory has not produced one undisputed Spanish individual contender, leaving the Ballon d’Or field unusually open.
Messi’s MLS setting is viewed as a possible weakness in his candidacy, with the American competition outside football’s leading traditional centres. Yet the alternative cases are also complicated. Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among their key figures, although the Georgian did not play at the World Cup, while several other PSG standouts did not make a defining impact at the tournament.
London ceremony set for 26 October
The 30-player shortlist was released earlier this month. Brazil have three representatives: Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhães, PSG defender Marquinhos and Real Madrid forward Vini Jr.
The winner will be announced in London, England, on 26 October.
2026 Ballon d’Or nominees
| Player | Club | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | England |
| Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona | Spain |
| Marc Cucurella | Real Madrid | Spain |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| Luis Díaz | Bayern Munich | Colombia |
| Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | Portugal |
| Gabriel Magalhães | Arsenal | Brazil |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Norway |
| Achraf Hakimi | Paris Saint-Germain | Morocco |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Paris Saint-Germain | Georgia |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain |
| Sadio Mané | Al-Nassr | Senegal |
| Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain | Brazil |
| Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | Argentina |
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | France |
| Nuno Mendes | Paris Saint-Germain | Portugal |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | Argentina |
| João Neves | Paris Saint-Germain | Portugal |
| Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | France |
| Willian Pacho | Paris Saint-Germain | Ecuador |
| Julián Quiñones | Al-Qadsiah | Colombia |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal | England |
| Rodri | Barcelona | Spain |
| Fabián Ruiz | Paris Saint-Germain | Spain |
| William Saliba | Arsenal | France |
| Ferran Torres | Paris Saint-Germain | Spain |
| Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich | France |
| Vini Jr. | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| Vitinha | Paris Saint-Germain | Portugal |
SEO Title: Diego Simeone names Lionel Messi as his 2026 Ballon d’Or choice
SEO Description: Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone has backed Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ahead of the London ceremony on 26 October.
