Lionel Messi has received strong backing from his Argentina and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
De Paul believes there should be no debate over Messi’s claim to the prestigious individual award, pointing to the Argentine’s performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“For me, there is no debate possible. In a year when there is a World Cup, nobody has ever done and nobody will ever do what Messi did, and he was 39 years old,” De Paul said.
The midfielder also praised Messi for competing against some of the world’s best players despite his age.
He described the Argentina captain as the best player at the World Cup and insisted that his performances should put him firmly in contention for another Ballon d’Or.
Messi’s case is further strengthened by his continued success at club level with Inter Miami, where he has still been an important figure. However, the Ballon d’Or winner will be decided through the official voting process.
If Messi wins, it would be his ninth Ballon d’Or, adding another major achievement to an already historic career.
