The race for the next Ballon d'Or is gaining more prominence as the ceremony approaches, and one of the voices that joined the debate was that of Diego Simeone. Without making comparisons between the main figures of today, the coach of Atlético de Madrid pointed directly to Lionel Messi as his candidate to win the award.
At the press conference before the match against Osasuna, for the sixth round of LaLiga, Cholo was presented with a statement from Lamine Yamal, who had stated that he and Kylian Mbappé were the best footballers in the world. When asked who occupies that place for him and who should win the Ballon d'Or, the Argentine was emphatic: "Messi, without any doubt. After the World Cup he had, with his age... No doubt, Messi".
At 39 years old, the current player for Inter Miami was one of the standout figures of the Argentine National Team led by Lionel Scaloni in the 2026 World Cup, contributing 8 goals and 4 assists and being key to taking the team to another World Cup final.
Simeone's statement came when there are still just over five weeks left to know the winner. The ceremony for the 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or is scheduled for Monday, October 26, at 5 PM (Argentina time), and will take place in London in a special edition honoring Sir Stanley Matthews, the first winner of the award in 1956.
The 30 nominees for the men's Ballon d'Or
Jude Bellingham (England / Real Madrid)
Pau Cubarsí (Spain / Barcelona)
Marc Cucurella (Spain / Chelsea - Real Madrid)
Ousmane Dembélé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
Luis Díaz (Colombia / Bayern Munich)
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal / Manchester United)
Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil / Arsenal)
Erling Haaland (Norway / Manchester City)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
Harry Kane (England / Bayern Munich)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia / Paris Saint-Germain)
Lamine Yamal (Spain / Barcelona)
Sadio Mané (Senegal / Al-Nassr)
