Diego Simeone has firmly reintroduced Lionel Messi into the Ballon d’Or conversation, selecting the Argentina captain to claim the award ahead of primary contenders Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé.
The Atletico Madrid manager stated his position during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Osasuna fixture, responding to a query regarding public claims made by Yamal and Mbappé regarding their respective entitlement to the honor.
Simeone declared: “Messi, without any doubt. After the World Cup he delivered and at the age he has reached, I have no doubt whatsoever: Messi.”
Messi led Argentina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at age 39, recording eight goals and four assists across 853 minutes prior to a 1-0 extra-time defeat against Spain, becoming the oldest outfield player to feature in a World Cup final.
That campaign re-established the Argentine forward as a contender for individual honors, following an initial narrative dominated by Yamal, Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Rodri. Messi holds the record of eight Ballon d’Or titles—last winning in 2023—with several betting markets currently positioning him fifth in the voting projections.
Mbappé had forcefully defended his own candidacy, stating: “I do not see any player who had a better season than me,” adding: “If I were voting, I would choose myself. I feel that I can win the Ballon d’Or this year.”
Yamal offered an indirect response during an interview with Movistar, asserting: “Mbappé and I are the two best players in the world, but I deserve the Ballon d’Or,” with both candidates engaging in public campaigns ahead of the final vote.
While Mbappé’s case relies on individual goalscoring figures and World Cup records, and Yamal draws strength from Spain’s World Cup victory, Simeone chose to evaluate Messi’s output relative to his age and influence in steering Argentina to the final, opening the prospect of a ninth Ballon d’Or for the legendary forward.
