As the anticipation builds for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in October, the debate over football’s most prestigious individual award intensifies. Among the prominent figures backing the Argentine legend is one of the game’s most respected former goalkeepers, who has voiced his strong support behind Lionel Messi.
Petr Cech, the legendary former Chelsea goalkeeper, shared his insights during an interview with Kalshi Sports. When asked to predict the winner of the prestigious award, he stated, “The winner of the Ballon d’Or? That’s a good question, but I think Messi has a good chance,” highlighting the veteran’s strong belief in the Inter Miami star.
Messi’s candidacy is built upon an extraordinary year of performance at 39 years old. His achievements include leading Inter Miami to the MLS title, contributing 45 goals and 30 assists in 49 appearances, and spearheading Argentina‘s journey back to the World Cup final with eight goals and four assists. Securing the award would grant him a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or, further cementing his legacy far ahead of any other competitor in history.
However, Messi faces formidable competition from a highly talented shortlist. The contenders include Harry Kane, who amassed an impressive 73 goals for club and country, Kylian Mbappe, who led the scoring charts in LaLiga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, as well as Lamine Yamal, who secured a domestic treble with Barcelona and lifted the World Cup with Spain.
Despite current betting odds placing him as an outside contender, the outcome remains highly uncertain. The ceremony, set for October 26 in London, will ultimately depend on the votes of journalists, who have yet to make their final decisions.
Messi’s Ballon d’Or nomination history
The 2026 nomination marks Messi’s 17th career Ballon d’Or recognition, placing him second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s record 18 nominations. This impressive streak of excellence began in 2007 and has persisted nearly every year since.
Out of those 17 nominations, he has successfully converted eight into victories, starting in 2009 and most recently in 2023. This remarkable haul gives him more Ballon d’Or trophies than any other footballer in history. No other player has come close to matching this level of sustained excellence in the eyes of voters, with only Ronaldo’s five Ballon d’Or wins even approaching that mark.
Winning a ninth trophy in October would only further widen Messi’s lead over Ronaldo and the rest of the field in terms of total victories, even as Ronaldo continues to hold the record for nominations.