Diego Simeone has thrown his support behind Lionel Messi’s bid for a ninth Ballon d’Or, arguing the Inter Miami forward’s display at the 2026 World Cup makes him his clear choice for the prize.
Speaking ahead of Atlético Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Osasuna, Simeone was asked who should claim the award. His answer was unequivocal: Messi. The Atlético boss pointed to the Argentine’s World Cup campaign and the fact he produced it at 39, saying there were “no doubts” in his mind over the winner.
Messi’s case is built around a tournament in which Argentina reached the final before losing 1-0 to Spain after extra time. He finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, according to L’Équipe, while Kylian Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Messi was also among the 30 players named on the official 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist.
The award race remains open, with Messi competing against a field that includes Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembélé and Rodri. L’Équipe’s assessment after the World Cup described the contest as unsettled, with the tournament having significantly reshaped the candidates’ cases.
For Messi, the nomination comes during a significant transition in his international career. He announced his retirement from Argentina duty on 31 August, bringing an end to a 21-year senior international career. His decision followed the World Cup final defeat and came weeks after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, on 8 August.
That retirement, however, will not prevent Messi from making one final appearance for Argentina. The Argentine Football Association has called him up for a farewell friendly against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on 6 October. The match will form part of Argentina’s three-game home programme, with Bolivia and Burkina Faso also on the schedule.
The timing places Messi back in the spotlight just weeks before the Ballon d’Or ceremony. UEFA has confirmed the 2026 event will be staged in London on 26 October, marking the first time the ceremony has been held in England.
Simeone’s intervention adds another prominent voice to a Ballon d’Or debate that is already attracting strong backing for several candidates. For Messi, the next milestone is now clear: complete his final Argentina farewell before attention turns fully to the London ceremony and the possibility of a ninth individual crown.
The development also underlines the unusual shape of this year’s contest. Messi is seeking to add to a record eight Ballon d’Or victories, while the ceremony itself will celebrate the award’s 70th anniversary. With the World Cup now part of the voting picture, the final weeks before the ceremony are likely to keep the debate firmly focused on individual performances and major international moments.