Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of contention for the 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings after Spain beat his team, while Lionel Messi has moved back into the conversation for a ninth Golden Ball.
The race for football's biggest individual prize always leans heavily on team success, and that remains the key theme here. Ballon d'Or voting tends to reward the players who shape the biggest trophies, whether that is the Champions League, a World Cup or a European Championship. In that context, Mbappe's club issues during the 2025-26 campaign work against him, especially after his team fell to Spain.
Mbappe later took part in the third-place play-off against England before turning his attention back to club matters. That leaves him effectively out of the running for the 2026 award, even with his standing as one of the game's biggest names.
Messi is back in the mix
Messi's case looks very different. At Qatar 2022, he won the title he is now trying to defend, and his form in the 2025 campaign in North America has only added to the discussion. He guided the Albiceleste to another World Cup final and scored eight goals, which is exactly the kind of tournament resume that keeps a player alive in Ballon d'Or rankings.
Age is part of the story too. At 39 years of age, Messi is still being talked about as a realistic contender, which says everything about the level he continues to produce. The article's view is simple: if he goes on to win the World Cup, then he would be 100 per cent in the mix for another Ballon d'Or.
Former Brazil midfielder Kleberson also backed that idea, saying Messi's support around Argentina is different and that the Argentine setup gives him a strong chance. He added that if Messi wins the World Cup, he would be up to win the Ballon d'Or again. For a player who has already won so much, that is a remarkable position to be in.
That is what makes this award race interesting. Mbappe's path has narrowed, but Messi remains in the frame for another historic finish if the trophy chase breaks his way.
