Messi loses 2026 World Cup final, faces setback in Ballon d'Or race
Argentina's defeat in the 2026 World Cup final dims Lionel Messi's hopes for a ninth Ballon d'Or, with Spain's Lamine Yamal now leading the contenders.
Key Takeaways
AIArgentine football star Lionel Messi lost the 2026 World Cup final, despite his standout performances throughout most of the tournament, significantly reducing his chances of winning a record ninth Ballon d'Or.
According to a report by GiveMeSport, Messi, who holds the record with eight Ballon d'Or awards, would have strengthened his claim for another if Argentina had retained the world title. Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists during the tournament, but the final defeat weakened his prospects for the prestigious honor.
The site noted in a Facebook post that the loss ended Messi's hopes of claiming another Ballon d'Or. Meanwhile, the Ballon d'Or page on X wrote: "Simply... thank you, Leo. Lionel Messi played his last World Cup match. It was a journey filled with records, goals, and glory. Your legacy will endure, as will your eight Ballon d'Or wins."
Projected Ballon d'Or contenders ranking
The site also published a projected ranking of Ballon d'Or contenders, placing Messi second behind Spain's Lamine Yamal, who scored against Saudi Arabia in the group stage and assisted a goal in the semifinal against France, despite not scoring further during the title run.
- Lamine Yamal
- Lionel Messi
- Harry Kane
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Kylian Mbappé
The report added that Messi ranked ahead of England captain Harry Kane, previous winner Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé, the top scorer of the 2026 World Cup and the tournament's all-time leading scorer.