With Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe falling short at the World Cup, Lionel Messi's absurd tournament could thrust him back into the Ballon d'Or conversation

Messi Targets Historic 9th Ballon dOr After World Cup Heroics Golden Ball favorite eyes record title as Ballon dOr committee confirms no European club restrictions

Ballon d’Or is considered the holy grail of individual awards in soccer. But the award also comes with a certain bias, that only players from European clubs can win the award.

There is no clear favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or, with bookmakers left scrambling after Rodri claimed the Golden Ball following Spain's victory over Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final.

Messis Ninth Ballon dOr Possible as Non-European Leagues Gain Recognition Ballon dOr organizers confirm no league restrictions ahead of World Cup final

It's definitely on the cards.

Lionel Messi has congratulated Ousmane Dembele on his Ballon d'Or success, telling the Paris Saint-Germain forward "you deserve it" after the Frenchman was presented with the prestigious prize. Dembele edged out contenders including Lamine Yamal to secure ...

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — By the age of 19 Kylian Mbappe had won the World Cup, become one of the most expensive soccer players ever and was labeled the heir-apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Seven years later, and with Messi and Ronaldo ...

“During the peak of their playing days, there was a genuine and heated debate” over who was the better footballer: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, said US magazine The Sporting News. But with his performance at the 2026 World Cup, with both men now ...

Lionel Messi will play in his third World Cup final on Sunday, a match that feels like the definitive end of an era for soccer's great 21st-century individual battle.