The 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been announced, with 39-year-old Argentine football legend Messi making the cut.

The evaluation period for the 2026 Ballon d'Or runs from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, with the cutoff date being the final of the Canada-Mexico-USA World Cup.

At the 2026 Canada-Mexico-USA World Cup, 39-year-old Messi contributed 8 goals and 1 assist across 8 matches, breaking multiple World Cup records and helping Argentina reach the final. Messi is the first captain in history to lead a team to three World Cup finals. In the tournament, Messi received the Silver Ball award and ranked second in the top scorers list.

At Inter Miami, Messi led the team to win the MLS Cup, delivering an impressive stat line of 6 goals and 7 assists in 6 playoff games and earning the playoff MVP award.

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