Why Inter Miami's Lionel Messi Cannot Compete for the Ballon d'Or, According to Matthaus

11.07.26 AET World Cup

Argentina

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Switzerland

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Lothar Matthaus stated in Germany on Saturday that Lionel Messi cannot win the world's top individual awards due to playing in MLS.

Major League Soccer vs European Elite

German football icon Lothar Matthaus has sparked a massive debate ahead of Argentina’s high stakes quarter final clash against Switzerland in Kansas City.

Speaking directly to the German newspaper Bild on Saturday, the 1990 World Cup winner expressed immense delight at Messi's ongoing tournament form but firmly ruled him out as a legitimate contender for upcoming global individual accolades.

The 39 year old maestro currently plies his trade for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) rather than competing for a top tier European giant.

According to Matthaus, this domestic club choice should disqualify him from securing either FIFA's The Best award or the Ballon d'Or, even if La Albiceleste successfully defend their global crown.

The Gap in Daily Competition

Matthaus emphasized that the daily competitive environment in North America fails to match the relentless tactical and physical pressure faced by Europe's elite players.

He boldly noted that the American top flight does not rank within the top 10 or 15 leagues in modern football. While Messi continues to deliver strong performances and magic moments in Miami, his domestic environment simply cannot be compared to the arenas where stars like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Erling Haaland operate on a weekly basis.

Superstars competing in the UEFA Champions League demonstrate a completely different tier of sustained performance over an entire calendar year which Matthaus believes is the true benchmark for being crowned the world's best.

Historical Precedent and Award Controversies

The fierce debate surrounding Messi’s eligibility for individual honors while playing outside Europe isn't entirely new.

Following his iconic World Cup 2022 triumph in Qatar, Messi claimed his record breaking eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023, largely fueled by his international exploits despite moving to Inter Miami midway through that evaluation period.

Critics at the time argued that short international tournaments while prestigious, should not completely overshadow a full grueling season of club football in Europe.

Statistically, the precedent for winning the sport's ultimate individual prizes based almost entirely on World Cup heroics remains incredibly strong yet highly scrutinized.

In 2002, Brazilian striker Ronaldo secured the Ballon d'Or after scoring eight goals to win the trophy in South Korea and Japan despite playing minimal club football for Inter Milan that year due to severe knee injuries.

Similarly, Fabio Cannavaro won the honor in 2006 on the back of Italy's defensive masterclass in Germany. However, as the financial and tactical gap between European club football and the rest of the world continues to widen, modern analysts are increasingly hesitant to crown players based on a 7 game international tournament.

With Argentina taking the pitch later this Saturday, Messi's performance will undoubtedly keep this explosive footballing discussion alive.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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