Ballon d'Or: Xavi turns his back on Messi!

Xavi Hernández paid tribute to Lionel Messi’s outstanding World Cup, while stating that a Spanish player should win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

With just over a month to go before the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, Xavi Hernández has joined the debate. The former FC Barcelona midfielder praised Lionel Messi’s performances with Argentina, while backing the candidacy of a player from Spain, who were crowned world champions this summer.

“Leo Messi produced an incredible level at the World Cup. At 39, the tournament he played was wonderful, impressive... but Spain are world champions. A Spanish player has to win the Ballon d’Or,” Xavi said.

Messi and Yamal among the 30 nominees

Messi is indeed among the 30 nominees unveiled on September 8. An eight-time winner, the Argentine returns to the list after two years away. He is coming off a season with 45 goals and 30 assists in 49 matches, before leading La Albiceleste to the 2026 World Cup final.

Lamine Yamal is also among the 30 candidates. The FC Barcelona player completed the 2025-2026 season with 25 goals and 20 assists in 57 appearances, while also winning the World Cup with La Roja. The young Spaniard recently laid out his own case for the Ballon d’Or.

A scenario that reminds Xavi of 2010

Xavi’s position carries particular significance. In 2010, a few months after Spain’s first World Cup triumph, Messi won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Andrés Iniesta and Xavi, who finished second and third respectively. The Catalan therefore knows the debate between individual performances and the weight of a world title perfectly well.

His admiration for his former teammate nevertheless remains intact. Before the 2026 World Cup final, Xavi had already described Messi as the best player in history. This time, however, his principled choice is the Spanish camp, with six of La Roja’s world champions among the nominees. The winner will be announced on October 26 in London.

Read also: AFCON 2027: how can you qualify for the final tournament?

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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