Messi reportedly set to current Ballon d’Or to winner regardless of being a nominee himself, followers name out awkward Yamal state of affairs
Lionel Messi might reportedly current the trophy on the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, whilst he stays a nominee for the award himself. The identical report suggests his household might be part of him on the occasion. While neither element has been confirmed, the potential for the eight-time winner taking over a presenter’s function whereas nonetheless in rivalry for a ninth Ballon d’Or makes for an fascinating state of affairs.
How the Messi Ballon d’Or presenting hearsay began
The hypothesis originated with a Spanish unbiased soccer reporter Juan Jesus, who claimed on X that Messi would attend the ceremony on October 26 and personally hand the trophy to this 12 months’s winner. The declare subsequently unfold throughout soccer aggregation accounts, fan pages and on-line sports activities protection, turning an unverified report right into a speaking level forward of the ceremony.Separate studies have additionally advised that Messi will attend the ceremony together with his household. Their attendance would definitely make sense if the Argentine decides to attend, notably with the potential for celebrating a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or alongside his household, however neither Messi nor the organisers have confirmed these plans.The ceremony will happen on the London Palladium on October 26, marking the seventieth version of soccer’s most prestigious particular person award. For the primary time, the occasion might be held in London, with organisers honouring Sir Stanley Matthews, who received the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956.Neither France Football nor UEFA has formally confirmed Messi’s reported presenting function, and his attendance stays unverified.
Messi stays a contender for his ninth Ballon d’Or
Messi’s reported function as a presenter is especially intriguing as a result of he’s additionally among the many 30 nominees for this 12 months’s award. The 39-year-old Inter Miami ahead returns to the shortlist after lacking out within the earlier two editions and stays in rivalry for an unprecedented ninth Ballon d’Or.Messi’s 2026 marketing campaign provides him a considerable case to make, having helped Argentina attain the World Cup ultimate with eight targets and 4 assists throughout eight matches. He has additionally continued delivering for Inter Miami, recording 23 targets and 11 assists throughout the 2026 MLS common season.
Oct 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF ahead Leo Messi (10) celebrates after scoring towards the D.C. United throughout the second half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The Argentine final received the Ballon d’Or in 2023, following his decisive contribution to Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar. Another victory would lengthen his document because the award’s most profitable recipient, probably creating a clumsy scheduling drawback if he had additionally been invited to current the trophy.A ceremony can not realistically have Messi hand himself the award, ought to he win, so organisers would want one other presenter for that second. The declare that he has been chosen to current the trophy doesn’t set up that he has misplaced the race, notably whereas his candidacy stays energetic and the end result has not been introduced.
Lamine Yamal theories and memes have already taken off
Much of the web response has centred on Lamine Yamal, with some followers imagining Messi handing {the teenager} his first Ballon d’Or as a symbolic passing of the torch. Their connection stretches again to a well-known 2007 UNICEF calendar {photograph} exhibiting a 20-year-old Messi bathing five-month-old Yamal, making the prospect of the Argentine presenting him with soccer’s greatest particular person prize really feel virtually scripted.
20-year-old soccer star Lionel Messi helps to wash Lamine Yamal, who was merely six months outdated on the time, throughout a photograph session in Sept. 2007 within the dressing room of the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Some supporters have consequently joked that the hearsay has already given away the winner, suggesting that the organisers have created an apparent publicity second across the pair’s exceptional connection.Fans have additionally turned the hearsay right into a meme, evaluating Messi presenting the award to Barack Obama handing himself a medal.The household angle, no less than, appears totally believable. With Messi having retired from overseas soccer, the Ballon d’Or could possibly be one other event for his family members to look at him take centre stage, particularly if he finally ends up including a ninth title to his assortment.For now, Messi stays a nominee, the reported presenting function stays unconfirmed and the winner will solely turn into clear on the ceremony. Until then, followers can get pleasure from imagining the probabilities, even when essentially the most entertaining state of affairs would require the organisers to seek out another person at hand Messi his ninth Ballon d’Or.
