Ballon d’Or 2026: Lionel Messi announced for the October 26 ceremony

Lionel Messi is announced for the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony, scheduled for next October 26. The presence of the Argentine star is already attracting attention, although his possible role in presenting the trophy to the winner has not been officially confirmed.

The ceremony will take place at the London Palladium Theatre in the British capital, on the occasion of the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or. Created in 1956 by France Football, the award has been organized since 2024 in collaboration with UEFA.

Lionel Messi holds a special place in the history of the trophy. The Argentine forward has won it eight times, a record, with his triumphs coming in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

His presence in London nevertheless remains to be officially confirmed. No official announcement consulted specifies whether he will be responsible for presenting the trophy to the next winner either. The name of Ousmane Dembélé’s successor, the 2025 winner, will be at the center of this anniversary edition.

Read also: Harry Kane or Michael Olise? ... Herbert Hainer’s choice for the Ballon d’Or

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

Related teams and leagues

World Cup

Champions League