Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, has once again made headlines as he has been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award at the age of 39. This nomination comes after a summer where Messi led the Argentina national team to the World Cup final, only to be narrowly defeated in extra time. The announcement from France Football, which included Messi in the list of 30 candidates, has reignited discussions about his performance and eligibility for the award.

Critics argue that Messi's impact has been limited to a brief period, suggesting that the Ballon d'Or should recognize players who have consistently performed well over an entire year. Furthermore, some point to Messi's current play in Major League Soccer (MLS), where he has dominated the statistics, as potentially insufficient for such a high honor. However, when considering his contributions to the national team, Messi stands out as one of the top players in international football over the past year.

From August 2025 to July 2026, Messi played 14 matches for Argentina, scoring 13 goals and providing 7 assists. His World Cup performance was particularly noteworthy, where he netted 8 goals and assisted 4. In comparison, other notable Ballon d'Or candidates have also had impressive records during this timeframe. Kylian Mbappe scored 16 goals and assisted 7 for France, while Erling Haaland had 19 goals and 3 assists for Norway. Harry Kane contributed 12 goals and 1 assist for England.

In this context, Messi's tally places him behind only Mbappe and Haaland among the four leading candidates. It's important to note that Argentina secured their World Cup qualification back in March 2025, which meant Messi did not need to exert himself in the final South American qualifying matches. He even opted to skip two friendly matches before the World Cup, focusing instead on preparation.

While the World Cup remains a critical factor in Messi's nomination, his individual achievements at the national level over the past year are also significant. Being mentioned alongside the likes of Haaland, Mbappe, and Kane underscores that Messi's sustained performance justifies his nomination. Each year, the Ballon d'Or nominations spark debates, but this time, Messi's inclusion seems well-deserved.