Messi returned to the Ballon d’Or race after a two-year absence and finished fifth in the latest standings. Despite his continued influence on the pitch, the Argentine great missed out on the award, which went to England striker Harry Kane for the first time. Kane finished ahead of other leading contenders, including Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.
Romero, however, believes Messi would have been his choice for the honour. Speaking in his first interview with Los Edul since becoming Argentina’s national team captain, the defender questioned the criteria used to determine the winner.
Cuti Romero, sobre el Balón de Oro:
“Hoy es un poco marketing y se lo darán al que más seguidores en Instagram tenga. Lo que hacía Leo no tiene comparación. Ellos son los mejores del mundo hoy, pero lo que hacía Leo no se lo he visto a nadie”. https://t.co/rIbLCXYlwo
— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) October 28, 2026
“These days, it has become a bit of a marketing strategy,” Romero said. Joking about the influence of social media, he added that perhaps the player with the most Instagram followers would receive the award.
Romero went on to explain why he considers Messi exceptional. He said that watching a match from the stands had once been enough to demonstrate the Argentine forward’s extraordinary abilities and influence.
“That is why he is the greatest of all time,” Romero said.
The defender also challenged the idea that winning major trophies should automatically determine the Ballon d’Or winner. In his view, success in competitions such as the Champions League or the World Cup should not be the sole measure of an individual player’s contribution.
“There has recently been a tendency to think that whoever wins the Champions League or the World Cup should also win the award,” Romero said. “But I have never seen anyone else do what Messi does on the pitch or have the influence he has.”
Asked whom he would choose if he had the power to decide the winner, Romero gave an unequivocal answer: “I would give it to Messi. Even if that is not possible, I would still choose him.”
Kane’s success has nevertheless been supported by an impressive season in front of goal. The England international scored 73 times for club and country, underlining his importance as a forward. His performances also made him a prominent contender in the build-up to the announcement, with bookmakers’ odds and pre-award predictions placing him among the leading candidates.
Romero’s comments have reignited discussion about what the Ballon d’Or should reward: individual brilliance, consistency across a season, team achievements or a combination of these factors. Messi’s influence on football has long made him a central figure in such debates, particularly given his record of individual honours and his achievements with Argentina.
The conversation also extends to the future of Argentina’s national team, especially the question of who should inherit Messi’s iconic number 10 shirt.
Romero admitted that his personal preference would be to retire the shirt in recognition of Messi’s legacy. He suggested that the Argentine Football Association could honour the forward with a mural at its headquarters, allowing the number to remain permanently associated with him.
However, acknowledging that retiring the shirt may not be a practical option, Romero said he would choose Julián Álvarez as its next wearer.
The Atlético Madrid forward has earned praise for his qualities both on and off the pitch. Romero, who is also a teammate of Álvarez at club level, described him as humble, family-oriented and a good person, while highlighting the qualities he believes make him suitable for the responsibility.
“I think he is the right person for that shirt,” Romero said, adding that he had expressed this preference to Álvarez on several occasions.
Romero also recognised that other players and supporters would have their own views on who should take over the number. Álvarez, he said, prefers to continue developing in his own way rather than allowing the discussion to define his career.
For now, Messi remains the figure at the centre of both conversations. Romero’s remarks reflect the enduring respect he commands among his Argentina teammates, as well as the continuing debate over how individual football excellence should be recognised and how the national team should preserve the legacy of one of its most celebrated players.
