Lionel Messi remains in contention for another Ballon d’Or despite approaching the age of 39, and his continued presence among the world’s elite has drawn praise from one of football’s most celebrated figures, Zinedine Zidane.
The French football legend has made his preference clear ahead of the latest edition of the prestigious individual award. Zidane said that if he were given the opportunity to vote, Messi would be his first choice. He went even further, suggesting that he would select the Argentine forward every time if he had 100 votes at his disposal.
“I would vote for Messi 100 times,” Zidane said, underlining the strength of his admiration for the Inter Miami star.
For Zidane, Messi’s age does not diminish his claim to be among the best players in the world. Instead, the fact that he continues to compete at the highest level so close to his 39th birthday makes his achievements even more remarkable.
The former France international believes many people underestimate the difficulty of maintaining such a high standard over such a long career. Messi has spent much of the past two decades at the centre of world football, winning major club and international honours while repeatedly competing for the game’s biggest individual prizes.
Zidane also indicated that he would not be surprised if Messi were to win the Ballon d’Or again. The Frenchman’s comments reflect his long-standing appreciation of Messi’s ability and his place in the wider debate over the greatest footballer of all time.
Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, extending his record in the award’s history. He is now seeking a ninth triumph, having again been included among the 30 players on the shortlist.
The competition, however, features a strong group of established stars and emerging talents. Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Vinícius Júnior and Erling Haaland are among the other prominent names in contention.
Messi’s inclusion is particularly notable because of the stage of his career. While younger players continue to dominate much of the conversation around the future of elite football, the Argentine remains capable of competing for one of the sport’s most coveted individual honours.
His career has already produced an extraordinary collection of achievements, but the Ballon d’Or shortlist offers another measure of his enduring influence. Zidane’s emphatic endorsement adds further weight to the debate, although the final outcome will depend on the votes cast by the award’s designated voters.
With Messi aiming to add a ninth Ballon d’Or to his record, attention will now turn to the final voting and the announcement of this year’s winner. For Zidane, however, there appears to be little doubt about whom he would choose.
