Casemiro Endorses Messi for 2026 Ballon d'Or Amid Critique

Casemiro, the midfielder for Inter Miami, publicly supported his captain Lionel Messi for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following Inter Miami's 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on July 23, 2026. This match marked Inter Miami's first-ever Campeones Cup win, with Messi scoring his 100th goal for the club and assisting Casemiro's goal.

Casemiro, reflecting on Messi's performance, expressed optimism about Messi's chances for the Ballon d'Or while also criticizing the award's voting criteria, which he believes unfairly favors players in European leagues over those in the Americas. The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is set for October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in London, England.

Key contenders for the award include Messi, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal, with Messi's World Cup performance and his form in Major League Soccer being pivotal factors in the voting.