‘Brazil’ Voted for Messi in the 2026 Ballon d’Or

Relations between Brazil and Argentina are far from sweet; the two nations are arch-rivals. Yet, Lionel Messi seems to have transcended this rivalry—reaching a level where he could even secure a top-choice vote from the heart of his rivals' territory.

*France Football* has released the voting breakdown and points for this year’s Ballon d’Or, revealing that a Brazilian journalist cast their top vote for Messi. He was also ranked first by journalists from five other nations.

In addition to Argentina, journalists from Brazil, Belarus, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Panama placed Messi in the number one spot. Other voters ranked the 39-year-old star in lower positions.

Messi earned his place in the running for this year’s Ballon d’Or following an exceptional year. He led Inter Miami to the Major League Soccer (MLS) title, recording 29 goals and 15 assists for the club during the 2025–26 season. Even more remarkably, he scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists to help Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final. Over the most recent season, he tallied 13 goals and 7 assists for Argentina.

However, these performances were not enough to secure him another Ballon d’Or. The Inter Miami forward finished fifth with a total of 612 points, trailing Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Rodri in the final standings.

Despite missing out on the 2026 Ballon d’Or, his standing remains untarnished. Messi continues to hold the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins, having claimed the prestigious award eight times—most recently in 2023.