Lionel Messi remains firmly in contention for the Ballon d’Or, despite approaching his 39th birthday, and he has received another strong endorsement from one of football’s most respected figures, Zinedine Zidane.
The Argentine superstar has secured a place on the 30-player shortlist for this year’s prestigious individual award. His inclusion underlines the remarkable longevity of his career, as Messi continues to compete at the highest level against a generation of younger stars.
Zidane, the former France international and World Cup winner, has made his preference clear. If he were given a vote in this year’s Ballon d’Or race, Messi would be his first choice. In fact, Zidane went considerably further, saying he would choose the Argentine every time if he had the opportunity to vote repeatedly.
“I would vote for Messi 100 times,” Zidane said.
For Zidane, Messi’s age does not diminish his claim to greatness. Instead, the fact that the forward remains among the leading players in world football at almost 39 is itself an extraordinary achievement. The French legend believes people may underestimate just how difficult it is for a player to maintain that level of performance for so long.
Messi’s continued presence in the Ballon d’Or race is particularly significant given the physical and competitive demands of modern football. Younger players have increasingly dominated the discussion around individual awards, yet Messi has remained capable of competing with some of the sport’s brightest emerging talents.
Zidane also suggested that another Ballon d’Or triumph for Messi would not surprise him. His comments reflect the enormous respect the former France captain continues to have for the Argentine, whose career has already established him as one of the most decorated players in football history.
Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, extending his record tally at the time. He is now in contention for a ninth award while representing Inter Miami. His inclusion on the shortlist places him alongside several of the game’s leading names, including Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Vinícius Júnior and Erling Haaland.
The presence of such a strong group of contenders means the race is expected to attract considerable attention. Several of the shortlisted players have enjoyed outstanding periods of form and have built strong cases of their own.
Yet Zidane’s message is unequivocal. For him, Messi’s age is no reason to question his place among football’s elite, and the Argentine remains the player he would choose for the award. With Messi now seeking a ninth Ballon d’Or, the final decision will determine whether his extraordinary individual record receives another addition.
