Lionel Messi finished fifth in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting announced on October 27, 2026, prompting sharp criticism from former Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia over the forward’s placement relative to his club commitments in Miami and his lack of European competition.
Harry Kane claimed the prestigious Golden Ball at a ceremony held at the London Palladium Theater, while Messi finished fifth behind the England captain and Bayern Munich striker. The outcome immediately ignited a fierce debate across international football, with prominent figures questioning the criteria used to evaluate players competing outside Europe’s top leagues.
Mehdi Benatia Questions the Voting Logic
Mehdi Benatia voiced bewilderment over the voting results in an interview with Foot Mercato. The former Bayern Munich defender argued that a fifth-place finish could not be justified given Messi’s limited footprint in high-intensity European fixtures during the calendar year.
“You spend the whole year in Miami and then finish fifth in the ranking? Have European football fans seen Messi more often than Michael Olise?” Benatia said. He acknowledged Messi’s brilliance at the 2026 World Cup, noting that the Argentina squad structured its play around the captain. “It’s true that he was outstanding at the World Cup and the whole team played for him. He deserves respect for that. But how can anyone explain to me that Messi is in fifth place?”
In club competition, the 39-year-old forward scored 29 goals in 33 matches for Inter Miami. On the international stage, Messi netted eight goals in eight matches at the World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest goalscorer behind Kylian Mbappé.
Argentinian Media Demands Top Honors for La Pulga
While European critics focused on club location and match frequency, media outlets in Argentina reacted with indignation to Messi’s exclusion from the podium. The newspaper Olé ran front-page coverage under the headline “All or Nothing,” arguing that Messi remained the undisputed best player in the world regardless of the voting outcome.
“Messi deserved the Ballon d’Or,” Olé stated, “whether Kane won it or not. For us, Messi is always the best, even if the Europeans chose the Englishman from FC Bayern and relegated the GOAT to a modest fifth place.”
Argentinian reports heavily emphasized the national team’s path to the tournament final, pointing specifically to the dramatic 2-1 semifinal victory over England. In that match, Argentina overturned an early deficit with a late scoring surge to eliminate Harry Kane’s England squad before ultimately falling to Spain in the final.
Ballon d’Or Ceremony Overshadowed by Youth Commitment
Messi did not attend the London ceremony on October 26, 2026. Reporting from Sport.ua highlighted that the veteran forward remained in Miami to participate directly in the youth football tournament bearing his name, the Messi Cup.
Reporting noted that Messi’s absence from the Palladium Theater could dampen the gala’s traditional star-studded draw. However, the decision showed that the player currently prioritizes grassroots youth development initiatives in the United States over European award galas.
The ceremony also featured debate from other football figures. During an appearance on the radio program El Larguero, Lamine Yamal’s uncle, Abdul, expressed a different viewpoint on the winner, arguing that his nephew deserved broader recognition while acknowledging Kane’s prolific goalscoring record.
International Retirement Follows World Cup Run
The Ballon d’Or debate caps a transitional phase for Messi on the international stage. Following the conclusion of the World Cup and the final against Spain, Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team.
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