Zidane Backs Messi as GOAT, Supports 2026 Ballon d'Or Bid

French football manager Zinedine Zidane has expressed strong support for Lionel Messi in the ongoing debate regarding the 'Greatest of All Time (GOAT)' in football. Zidane stated that anyone who questions Messi's position at the top does not truly understand the game.

He also endorsed Messi for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, declaring he would vote for the Inter Miami star “100 times” if given the opportunity. Zidane remarked on Messi's remarkable ability to remain one of the world's best players at the age of 39, emphasizing that such longevity deserves recognition.

Messi, who has been nominated among the 30 candidates for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, is the most decorated player in the award's history, having won it eight times, with his latest victory occurring in 2023 after contributing significantly to Argentina's World Cup win in Qatar. Zidane indicated that Messi's continued high-level performances make him a serious contender for the award and questioned whether any other nominees have achieved as much as Messi.

Zidane concluded by stating that those who doubt Messi's GOAT status do not belong in the football community.