Beckham backs Messi for 2026 Ballon d'Or after standout season

David Beckham, the English football legend and co-owner of Inter Miami, has said that Argentine star Lionel Messi deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, following his continued brilliance for both club and country at the age of 39.

The BBC quoted Beckham praising Messi's abilities after he led Inter Miami to victory in the Campeones Cup, defeating Mexico's Cruz Azul 2-0. Beckham stated that Messi's performances at this stage of his career make him a strong contender for the award, and that he is the most deserving candidate this year.

Messi's achievements with Inter Miami and Argentina

Messi scored Inter Miami's opening goal in the 24th minute with a header from a Luis Suárez assist, and set up the second goal for Brazilian Casemiro in the 81st minute, securing the club's first Campeones Cup title. Notably, this was Messi's 100th goal for Inter Miami.

Meanwhile, Messi continued to shine for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as Argentina reached the final, where they lost to Spain. He increased his all-time World Cup assist tally to 12, including 10 in knockout rounds—a new record. Messi is now second on the tournament's all-time scorers list with 21 goals, just behind France's Kylian Mbappé, who has 22.

Ballon d'Or contenders and award ceremony

England's Harry Kane, Bayern Munich striker, tops the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, alongside compatriots Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid and Declan Rice of Arsenal. The list includes six players from Spain's World Cup-winning squad, among them Paris Saint-Germain's Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive goal in the final.

The shortlist also features nine Paris Saint-Germain players, including last year's winner Ousmane Dembélé, as well as Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior.

The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the award's founding in 1956.