France head coach and football legend Zinedine Zidane has backed Lionel Messi as the greatest player in football history, while strongly supporting the Argentine to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Zidane made the comments on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after Messi was included among the 30 nominees for this year’s prestigious individual award.
Zidane’s endorsement comes after another outstanding campaign from the 39-year-old Messi, who recorded 45 goals and 30 assists in 49 appearances during the 2025-26 season. The Inter Miami forward also scored eight goals for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping his country reach the final.
The French football icon said he would vote for Messi repeatedly if given the opportunity, highlighting the Argentine’s ability to remain among the world’s elite at an age when most players have already retired.
Messi’s inclusion on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist has placed him among an elite group of contenders competing for the award.
His statistics during the evaluation period include:
- 49 appearances
- 45 goals
- 30 assists
- MLS title with Inter Miami
- Eight goals at the 2026 World Cup
- A place in the 2026 World Cup final
Those numbers have strengthened Messi’s case despite fierce competition from players such as Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and other leading nominees.
The official Ballon d’Or nominee list confirms Messi’s 45-goal, 30-assist campaign for Inter Miami and Argentina.
Zidane focused particularly on Messi’s longevity and consistency.
At 39, Messi continues to produce elite numbers at club and international level. Zidane argued that maintaining such a standard at that stage of a career is an achievement that should not be underestimated.
The former Real Madrid manager has previously been involved in the long-running debate over football’s greatest player. In 2017, while managing Real Madrid, Zidane famously described Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in football history after the Portuguese won his fifth Ballon d’Or.
His latest position therefore marks a significant shift from his earlier public endorsement of Ronaldo.
Messi’s claim to the greatest-player debate has grown stronger since he completed one of football’s most significant achievements by leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.
He has also accumulated a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and remains among the most decorated players of his generation. His continued production with Inter Miami and Argentina has further extended his case.
The 2026 World Cup added another chapter to that legacy. Messi scored eight goals during the tournament and helped Argentina reach the final before they were defeated by Spain.
The debate remains subjective because comparisons between players from different eras involve different tactical systems, competitions and football environments. Pelé, Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo remain central to any serious discussion about the greatest players in history.
Zidane’s comments also add another prominent voice to an increasingly competitive 2026 Ballon d’Or discussion.
Messi enters the race with exceptional individual statistics, but the field includes several players with compelling cases. Kylian Mbappé, for example, recorded 58 goals and 13 assists during his campaign, while Harry Kane also produced outstanding numbers for Bayern Munich and England.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, when the winner will be announced.
For Zidane, however, Messi’s longevity, production and influence have made his choice straightforward.
Zinedine Zidane’s latest comments place Lionel Messi firmly at the centre of the 2026 Ballon d’Or conversation and the wider debate over football’s greatest player. While the GOAT argument will continue among supporters of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pelé and Maradona, Zidane has made his position clear: he considers Messi the outstanding player in football history.
With the Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, Messi’s record-breaking career and latest season will remain central to discussions over whether he can add another individual honour to an already historic legacy.
