22 Hrs
Source:
الجزيرة الرياضية
Messi eyes Ronaldo's records in Ballon d'Or race
The Argentine star Lionel Messi has returned to the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award in 2026 after missing out on two editions, marking his 17th nomination and closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 18 wins. Messi dropped from the list following his retirement from international football in August 2026, but he regained his place after an impressive performance at the 2026 World Cup, where he scored 8 goals, provided 4 assists, and helped Argentina reach the final. With this, Messi needs just one more nomination to become the most nominated player in the history of the award, while Ronaldo maintains his record with five Ballon d'Or titles. However, Ronaldo has been absent from the shortlist for the fifth consecutive year despite winning the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr and shining at the World Cup, where his performance was underwhelming.
Size: 120%Text Size
Notice: This Is an AI-Generated Summary
Comments (0)