The result of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on July 20 could decide the owner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
According to AS, Lionel Messi is the number one candidate for the Ballon d’Or if Argentina is crowned champion. At age 39, the Inter Miami superstar stands before the opportunity to bring home the 2nd World Cup title of his career with the Argentina national team. That achievement is strong enough to create an overwhelming advantage over every rival.
Notably, the Ballon d’Or social media account just posted a message emphasizing that a player competing outside Europe can completely win this award. This is seen as an affirmation clearing all doubts regarding Messi playing for Inter Milan in MLS.
From not being highly rated due to playing outside Europe, Messi unexpectedly caused the 2026 Ballon d’Or race to turn around rapidly with a special signal from the organizers, alongside a world-class performance at the 2026 World Cup.
In the event Spain wins the championship, the race becomes more unpredictable. Lamine Yamal emerges as a top candidate following a successful season at both club and national team levels. However, Rodri is also very highly rated thanks to his immense influence on the playstyle and prestige among experts, especially after having won the Ballon d’Or two years ago.
Conversely, the hopes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, or Ousmane Dembele will depend heavily on the result of the final. If Messi lifts the world golden cup, the chances for these stars to compete will diminish significantly.
The message from the Ballon d’Or organizers is seen as an important signal before kickoff. In the current context, as long as he conquers the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, Messi can completely take another giant leap on his journey to conquer his 9th Ballon d’Or.
