Messi confirmed attendance, will not present 2026 Ballon d’Or – Italian journalist

Spread the word Lionel Messi will not present the 2026 Ballon d’Or to the eventual winner, while his participation in the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London remains unconfirmed.

The clarification follows speculation that the Argentina captain and Inter Miami forward would attend the prestigious awards ceremony and play a special role in presenting the trophy to this year’s winner.

Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday that Messi had not received an invitation from the organisers to present an award. His account contradicts earlier reports suggesting that the eight-time winner would be involved in the presentation.

The 39-year-old forward, however, remains among the 30 nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or, raising the possibility that he could be recognised at the ceremony if his performances earn him sufficient votes. Blueprint reports

There has been no confirmation of his attendance, and the latest development means reports of a symbolic handover of the trophy from Messi to another player should be treated as speculation rather than an established arrangement.

The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or will take place at the London Palladium in England, marking the first time the ceremony has been held in the British capital. The event celebrates seven decades of the award, which was established by French magazine France Football in 1956.

Messi remains the most decorated player in the history of the men’s Ballon d’Or, having won the award eight times.

His victories came in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023, reflecting his sustained excellence across different stages of his career.

His first triumph followed an outstanding 2008/09 season with Barcelona, when the Spanish club won the UEFA Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey under manager Pep Guardiola.

Messi subsequently won the award three more times consecutively, becoming the first player to claim four Ballon d’Or titles in succession. His extraordinary goalscoring ability, creativity, close control and influence on Barcelona’s attacking play established him as one of the defining footballers of his generation.

He returned to the summit in 2015 after Barcelona completed another treble, before securing his sixth award in 2019.

His seventh victory came in 2021, following his performances for Argentina, including their Copa América triumph that ended a 28-year wait for a major senior international trophy.

The eighth award arrived in 2023 after Messi captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played a decisive role throughout the tournament, scoring in the final against France and helping his country secure its first World Cup title since 1986.

The triumph strengthened his standing in the longstanding debate over football’s greatest players, particularly because the World Cup had been the major international honour missing from his collection.

His inclusion on the 2026 shortlist represents a return to the competition after missing the previous two editions. However, his nomination does not guarantee another victory, with the outcome dependent on the voting process and the performances of his rivals during the assessment period.

Messi’s principal rival during much of his career has been Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d’Or five times.

Ronaldo claimed the award in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, making him the second-most successful player in the award’s history.

His first victory came during his time at Manchester United, following a remarkable campaign in which he helped the English club win both the Premier League and Champions League.

He subsequently enjoyed further success at Real Madrid, where he became one of football’s most prolific goalscorers and helped the Spanish giants dominate European competition.

Ronaldo’s 2016 triumph followed Portugal’s European Championship victory and Real Madrid’s Champions League success, while his 2017 award came after the club retained the European title.

For more than a decade, the two superstars dominated the Ballon d’Or conversation, with their individual achievements, goalscoring records and team successes generating intense competition among supporters and football analysts.

Their run was interrupted by Luka Modrić in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. Modrić’s award followed his role in Real Madrid’s Champions League success and Croatia’s run to the World Cup final, while Benzema was recognised after an outstanding campaign with Real Madrid.

Ronaldo, however, is absent from the 2026 shortlist, meaning he will not add to his five awards this year. Messi’s nomination therefore offers him an opportunity to extend his record, although his prospects will depend on how voters assess the performances of all the contenders.

The Ballon d’Or was introduced by France Football in 1956, with England winger Stanley Matthews becoming its inaugural winner.

The award initially recognised European players competing for European clubs before its eligibility rules were expanded to reflect football’s increasingly international character.

Over the decades, the trophy has recognised some of the sport’s most influential figures, including Alfredo Di Stéfano, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, George Weah, Ronaldo Nazário, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Kaká.

Cruyff won the award three times, while Platini and Van Basten each secured three victories. Liberia’s George Weah made history in 1995 as the first African player to win the men’s Ballon d’Or.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazário won in 1997 and 2002, while Zidane received the award in 1998 after helping France win the World Cup on home soil.

In more recent years, the competition has increasingly reflected the emergence of a new generation of footballers capable of challenging established stars.

Modrić’s 2018 victory ended the sequence of awards shared between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Benzema’s triumph four years later recognised his influence on Real Madrid’s European success.

Messi returned to the top in 2023, before Manchester City midfielder Rodri won in 2024 following his contributions to the club’s success and Spain’s European Championship triumph.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé claimed the 2025 award after an influential season with the French club and enters the 2026 race as the defending champion.

The 2026 shortlist brings together established stars and emerging talents whose performances during the 2025/26 season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup have strengthened their claims to football’s most prestigious individual honour.

Among the leading names are England captain Harry Kane, France forward Kylian Mbappé, Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, Norway striker Erling Haaland and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Defending champion Dembélé is also in contention, alongside other prominent players, including Rodri and Bruno Fernandes.

Kane’s goalscoring record with Bayern Munich and his contributions to England’s World Cup campaign have placed him among the major contenders. Yamal has continued to attract attention for his influence at Barcelona and with Spain, while Mbappé remains a formidable candidate because of his scoring ability and performances at club and international level.

Dembélé, meanwhile, will seek to retain the award, a feat that would further strengthen his standing among the leading players of his generation.

Messi’s presence on the shortlist adds another layer of interest to the competition. Although his record and reputation remain formidable, the award is determined by performances and voting criteria rather than past achievements alone.

The voting process involves specialist journalists representing countries ranked among the top 100 in the FIFA men’s world rankings. Voters assess individual performances, team achievements and the player’s conduct and sportsmanship.

The inclusion of the 2026 World Cup in the assessment period has also made international performances an important consideration in the race.

A ninth Ballon d’Or would widen Messi’s lead over Ronaldo and establish another extraordinary milestone in his career. Nevertheless, the Argentine faces competition from players whose performances over the assessment period have strengthened their own claims.

The October 26 ceremony will feature the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards alongside other honours recognising outstanding contributions across football.

The awards include the Kopa Trophy for young players, the Yashin Trophy for goalkeepers, and honours for clubs, coaches and leading goalscorers in the men’s and women’s games.

The decision to stage the ceremony in London for the first time carries historical significance, as the event marks the 70th anniversary of the award and pays tribute to Matthews, who won the inaugural trophy in 1956.

For Messi, the occasion would provide another opportunity to be associated with an award that has defined several chapters of his career. His eight victories, World Cup triumph, Champions League titles and numerous domestic honours have already secured his place among football’s most decorated players.

However, the immediate question is no longer whether he will present the trophy, but whether he will attend the ceremony at all.

Romano’s report indicates that Messi has not been invited to present an award, while his participation in the event remains unconfirmed. Until the organisers announce otherwise, claims that he will hand the 2026 Ballon d’Or to its winner should not be reported as fact.