Former Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin has expressed his belief that Lionel Messi deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, following his significant contributions for both club and country. Arshavin suggested that awarding Messi another Ballon d'Or would provide a poetic conclusion to his illustrious career, particularly highlighting his impressive journey to the World Cup final.
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Arshavin noted Messi's record-extending 17th nomination, after the Argentine forward scored eight goals to help lead his team to the World Cup final. At the club level, Messi played a crucial role in Inter Miami's success, driving them to their first Major League Soccer title and winning the Campeones Cup, with a remarkable tally of 21 goals and 11 assists.
In comments to Sports.ru, Arshavin acknowledged the competitive nature of this year's Ballon d'Or race, stating, "It seems to me that there is no outright favourite for the Ballon d'Or this year. But I would give it to Messi. He had a great World Cup, dragging Argentina almost single-handedly."
Despite Argentina finishing as runners-up to Spain, Arshavin argued that Messi's consistent excellence for both the national team and Inter Miami earns him the prestigious award. He added, "Unfortunately, he couldn't drag the team all the way to the title, but in any case, he played brilliantly both for the national team and for Inter Miami. After all, he also led the club to their first league championship. It would be a fitting final chord since there is no obvious contender."
The Ballon d'Or will be awarded at a gala on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre. This marks the first time the ceremony will take place outside of Paris, commemorating the award's 70th anniversary. Messi will face competition from notable players including Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham, all of whom are named on the 30-man shortlist.