Ballon d'Or 2026: Why arch-rivals Brazil voted Lionel Messi No 1

When France Football released the detailed voting breakdown for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, football fans once again turned their attention to Lionel Messi. Despite finishing fifth overall with 612 points, the 39-year-old superstar proved his unparalleled influence by securing six first-place votes.

Yet, these results also exposed a fascinating paradox regarding the polarization among football experts. Most notably, the journalist representing Brazil – Argentina's arch-rivals – chose to transcend historical enmity by voting Messi first, whereas 15 other nations completely omitted him from their top 10. This stark contradiction has sparked intense debate over the true value of a legend in the twilight of his career.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or voting paradox and recognition from arch-rivals Brazil

This polarization is evident in the fact that only six nations ranked Lionel Messi first: Argentina, Brazil, Belarus, China, Panama, and the UAE. Remarkably, Brazilian journalist Cleber Machado cast aside historical rivalry to honor the 39-year-old superstar. He asserted that Messi has been the world's best player for the last 15 years, possessing a genius footballing brain and acting as the decisive factor in guiding Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final.

However, the paradox lies in the 15 nations that completely excluded him from their top 10. This deep divide suggests that, for a section of the electorate, Messi's World Cup heroics were no longer enough to overshadow his age and his spell at Inter Miami, placing him at the center of a highly polarized debate.

World Cup 2026 impact keeps 39-year-old Messi among the elite

This recognition is well-founded given Lionel Messi's extraordinary performances at the 2026 World Cup, where the 39-year-old scored six goals to lead Argentina to a dramatic final. Alongside this, his remarkable return for Inter Miami – racking up 29 goals and 15 assists in just 34 appearances – is ironclad proof that his clinical edge remains fully intact.

His absolute influence in high-stakes matches is precisely what convinced the most demanding pundits, despite him playing outside of elite European football. A genius reading of the game and superior tactical intelligence allow him to decide matches in a split second, turning his footballing brain into the ultimate weapon to defy the passage of time.

A razor-thin margin at the top and the backlash from Argentina

The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or witnessed one of the most dramatic battles in history, with Harry Kane claiming the crown with 1,055 points, finishing a mere 28 points ahead of Kylian Mbappé. This razor-thin margin reflects a deeply divided electorate, and France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia noted it as the fourth-closest vote in the award's history.

However, the outcome sparked fierce outrage in the Argentine media, particularly from Olé, as their legendary captain Lionel Messi finished only fifth. For those in the land of the Tango, seeing a genius who had just guided his country to the 2026 World Cup final ranked below other candidates was a bitter pill to swallow, turning this year's vote into a lightning rod for controversy.

Editorial perspective

Ultimately, while Harry Kane officially scaled the peak of world football with the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi remains an eternal icon, transcending trophies and age. The absolute reverence for the 39-year-old superstar was perfectly illustrated by the fact that even Brazil's media representative – Argentina's ultimate rivals – cast aside historic animosity to place him at the top of his ballot.

This proves that Messi's class has reached a universal plane, where debates over rankings pale in comparison to an immortal legacy. In your view, was Messi's fifth-place finish fair reward for his exploits at the 2026 World Cup?