French football legend Zinedine Zidane has delivered a major surprise in the 2026 Ballon d’Or race after revealing the player he believes deserves the prestigious individual award, choosing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi despite his age and the presence of several younger stars on the shortlist. 🔥🏆⚽
Zidane’s decision has added another layer of excitement to the Ballon d’Or race, particularly because the shortlist includes many of the biggest names in world football, including French stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, making Zidane’s support for Messi an especially notable talking point.
Zidane believes Messi’s ability to remain in contention for major individual awards at the age of 39 is extraordinary, especially in an era where modern football places enormous physical demands on players.
🚨 Zidane Picks Messi for the Ballon d’Or
Zidane made his preference clear by confirming that he would give his vote to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or race.
The choice comes despite the presence of numerous players who have produced strong performances during the recent period. Zidane nevertheless believes that Messi’s current level keeps him firmly in contention.
His choice is not based simply on the player’s reputation, but on what he sees as an extraordinary continuation of a career that has kept Messi among the elite of world football for many years. ⭐
🐐 Messi Continues to Challenge Father Time
One of the main reasons Zidane admires Messi is the Argentine’s ability to continue performing at a high level despite his advancing age.
At 39, Messi remains part of the conversation surrounding the best players in world football, something that is extremely rare at this level.
As the years pass, maintaining physical and technical consistency becomes an increasingly difficult challenge, yet Messi continues to remain relevant whenever the biggest individual awards are discussed.
🔥 Zidane Does Not Rule Out Another Messi Triumph
Zidane said he would not be surprised if Messi wins the Ballon d’Or once again, considering that simply reaching this level at his age is an extraordinary achievement.
Messi’s continued presence in the race can also serve as a message to younger generations that age does not always prevent a player from remaining at the top, as long as he maintains quality, consistency and the ability to make a difference.
🇦🇷 A Blow to Mbappe and Dembele
Zidane’s choice of Messi comes at the expense of leading French contenders, particularly Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Naturally, Zidane supporting a player from outside the French group adds an intriguing element to the race, especially because Mbappe and Dembele remain highly prominent names in discussions surrounding major individual awards.
Zidane, however, selected the player he considers the best according to his own criteria, making it clear that Messi remains capable of competing with any other contender. ⚽🔥
🏆 Messi Holds the Record
Messi enters the Ballon d’Or race with a record that no other player has matched, having won the award eight times.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo follows with five Ballon d’Or titles, highlighting the extraordinary dominance the two legends have enjoyed over the award across many years.
That history gives Messi a huge symbolic advantage, although the award ultimately depends on performances and achievements during the relevant evaluation period.
📅 When Will the Winner Be Announced?
The Ballon d’Or shortlist was announced on September 8, while the ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 26.
As the ceremony approaches, discussions surrounding the strongest candidates are expected to intensify, particularly because several nominees have compelling cases.
🧠 The Award Is Not Decided by Reputation
Although Messi has an extraordinary history with the award, the Ballon d’Or is not decided simply by a player’s name or previous achievements.
Seasonal performances, individual numbers, team trophies and influence in major matches can all play important roles in determining the eventual winner.
Zidane’s support is therefore an influential opinion, but it does not necessarily indicate who will ultimately receive the award.
⭐ Messi Faces a New Generation
One of the most fascinating aspects of the current race is that Messi finds himself competing against a new generation of stars, including Mbappe and several footballers who have strongly established themselves in recent years.
That makes Messi’s presence in the competition at 39 particularly remarkable and gives the race a unique character, bringing together the experience of a legend and the ambition of a younger generation.
🔥 Why Does Zidane Trust Messi?
Zidane’s choice can be interpreted as a belief that a player capable of continuing to make the difference deserves recognition regardless of age.
Messi possesses a remarkable history of producing decisive moments, which helps explain why his name remains central whenever discussions about the best players in the world emerge.
⚔️ A Race That Could Go Down to the Final Moment
With several major stars included on the shortlist, the Ballon d’Or race appears open until the award ceremony.
Predictions could change as performances continue to be assessed and the achievements of the contenders are examined during the relevant period.
🏁 Conclusion
Zinedine Zidane’s decision to back Lionel Messi for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has reignited the debate surrounding the award, particularly after the French legend chose the Argentine superstar ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele despite the strong French competition. 🇦🇷🔥🏆
Messi now faces an extraordinary challenge, not only because of the quality of the other nominees but also because he is competing for the award at the age of 39, making his presence in the race a remarkable achievement in itself.
📢 Do you agree with Zidane’s choice? Do you believe Messi deserves the 2026 Ballon d’Or, or did Mbappe, Dembele or another contender build a stronger case? Share your opinion and prediction for the winner. ⚽🏆🔥
