Lionel Messi has added another remarkable chapter to his extraordinary Ballon d’Or career at the age of 39, surpassing records previously held by his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi’s inclusion on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist means his journey with the prestigious individual award now stretches from 2006 to 2026. The 20-year gap between his first and latest nomination is the longest in the history of the award, putting him ahead of Ronaldo, whose corresponding span was 18 years.
The 2026 shortlist was announced on Tuesday, with Messi among the 30 nominees for the men’s award. His latest appearance is particularly striking because he is now playing outside Europe for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. His nomination followed an impressive campaign for both club and country, including Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final.
Messi first appeared among the Ballon d’Or nominees in 2006, when he was still a teenage Barcelona player. He received just two votes that year, but that early recognition marked the beginning of a remarkable individual journey.
His 2026 nomination is his 17th overall, leaving him one behind Ronaldo’s record of 18. Ronaldo, however, is not included on this year’s shortlist and has been absent from the nominees since 2022.
The difference between the two players is now clear in two separate categories. Ronaldo still holds the record for the highest number of Ballon d’Or nominations, with 18, while Messi has 17. But when it comes to longevity between the first and most recent nomination, Messi now stands alone at the top.
The latest nomination also gives Messi another age-related record. At 39, he has become the oldest nominated player of the 21st century, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous mark of 37, set when the Portuguese forward was nominated in 2022.
The all-time age record, however, remains with Stanley Matthews. The English football legend was 41 when he won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956.
Messi’s relationship with the award has been exceptional since his first nomination. He has won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Ronaldo is second on the all-time list with five victories.
The 2026 nomination is particularly significant because Messi is no longer playing in one of Europe’s major domestic leagues. His continued recognition at the highest individual level demonstrates the influence of his performances for Inter Miami and Argentina. He is the only active MLS player on the 2026 men’s shortlist.
His international campaign was a major part of the story. Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists as Argentina reached the World Cup final. His World Cup tally reached 21 goals during the tournament, although Kylian Mbappé subsequently moved ahead of him in the competition’s all-time scoring rankings. Messi has also recently announced his retirement from international football, making his latest Ballon d’Or nomination even more notable.
At club level, Messi continued to produce influential performances for Inter Miami, helping the American side achieve domestic success. His presence on the Ballon d’Or shortlist therefore reflects a combination of club form, international impact and the extraordinary longevity of his career.
Messi is not necessarily regarded as the leading favourite for the 2026 award. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and other leading contenders are also among the nominees, while the final decision will depend on the overall assessment of performances during the relevant period.
Regardless of whether he wins a ninth Ballon d’Or, Messi has already secured another place in the award’s history. A teenager who first appeared on the shortlist in 2006 has returned two decades later at the age of 39.
Ronaldo may still lead the overall nomination count, but Messi now owns the record for the longest span between a player’s first and most recent Ballon d’Or nomination. It is another remarkable measure of the Argentine’s extraordinary longevity at the very highest level of world football.
