France Football has published a statement addressing whether the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner has an outright claim to the Ballon d'Or Award. The clarification comes as eight-time winner Lionel Messi shines at the tournament, leading Argentina to the Round of 16 and topping the scoring charts with seven goals.
Messi's World Cup Performance Raises Concerns
Messi, who won his record-extending Ballon d'Or in 2023 after leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has sparked early concerns from rival fans that he could secure his ninth award. He opened the 2026 tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria, bringing his World Cup tally to 20 goals in 30 matches—the most in the competition's history, according to FIFA.
Historical Context of Ballon d'Or and World Cup Wins
In its statement, Ballon d'Or noted that seven players have won the award after winning the World Cup since 1956. Four of those wins occurred after the award became global in 1995: Zinedine Zidane (1998), Ronaldo (2002), Fabio Cannavaro (2006), and Lionel Messi (2022). Before 1995, Bobby Charlton (1966), Paolo Rossi (1982), and Lothar Matthäus (1990) won when the award was exclusive to Europeans.
However, exceptions exist. In 2010, Messi won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Spain's World Cup-winning duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta, despite not winning the World Cup and failing to score in South Africa. In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo won despite a group stage exit, beating finalist Messi and World Cup winner Manuel Neuer. In 2018, Luka Modric won ahead of France's Antoine Griezmann, who helped his team win the World Cup in Russia.
Ballon d'Or's Conclusion
“Yes, winning the World Cup helps, but it does not guarantee a Ballon d'Or. To win it, you need to have been the best player of the season, not only of the World Cup,” the statement concludes.
Updated Ballon d'Or Rankings
Legit.ng previously analyzed the updated Ballon d'Or rankings after Ousmane Dembele's hat-trick against Norway in the final group game. The 2025 winner remains a favorite to win again if he helps France secure the World Cup after another strong season with PSG.
