Messi Nominated for 17th Ballon d'Or, Zidane Backs Him

Lionel Messi has achieved a record 17th nomination for the Ballon d’Or following an impressive year with Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. From August 2025 to July 2026, Messi played 54 matches, scoring 47 goals and providing 31 assists.

His performance earned him his second consecutive MLS MVP award and led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup in December 2025. Additionally, Messi excelled in the 2026 World Cup, scoring eight goals and providing four assists, helping Argentina finish as runners-up.

As the competition for the 2026 Ballon d’Or intensifies, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane expressed his belief that Messi deserves to win, stating he would vote for him "100 times." In contrast, former Scotland striker Ally McCoist contended that the award should go to either Bayern Munich's Harry Kane or Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, both of whom are serious contenders for the accolade.