Lionel Messi could yet claim a ninth Ballon d'Or award, according to Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit, though the Argentine icon faces formidable competition from younger stars and rival Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup. At 41 years old, Messi has already won eight Golden Balls—three more than Ronaldo's five—but the 2026 tournament in North America could rewrite the script for both eternal rivals.
Speaking to GOAL in association with MrRaffle.com, Gullit, who won the Ballon d'Or himself in 1987, assessed the chances of football's greatest players. "If Messi has been influential, then of course," Gullit said when asked if a ninth award was possible. "But that's what Ronaldo wants as well—Portugal have a good team too." The Portuguese captain remains determined to add World Cup glory to his CV and could theoretically mount a Ballon d'Or challenge if he leads his nation to the ultimate prize.
Yamal's Path to Contention
However, Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's 18-year-old sensation, represents perhaps the likeliest challenger for the 2026 award. The precocious winger already finished runner-up in last year's vote despite his youth and has collected La Liga and European Championship medals. Yet Gullit poured cold water on expectations of an immediate breakthrough. "I think it depends on how you perform at the World Cup," Gullit explained. "Even if you win a Champions League—Yamal can't win that this time anyway—he needs to excel at the World Cup to make his mark and be in contention for the Ballon d'Or, because he hasn't been in the final."
The World Cup's expanded influence on the 2026 Ballon d'Or race creates unpredictability. Harry Kane, who has netted 55 Bundesliga goals this season for Bayern Munich, remains in contention despite European disappointment. Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid's Galactico signing, could cement his legacy with a second World Cup triumph and continued brilliance in La Liga. Midfielders like Vitinha, whom Gullit highlighted as "unbelievable," and Declan Rice of Arsenal will also press their claims through club and international success.
The tournament's timing means Champions League glory—traditionally a decisive factor—will share importance with World Cup performances for the first time since 2022, when Messi's Qatar triumph catapulted him to his eighth award. Whether that narrative repeats or a new champion emerges hinges on the next four months of football.
