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The Atlético Madrid manager said he has “zero doubts” about Messi deserving the award.
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Simeone pointed to Messi’s extraordinary World Cup performance at the age of 39 as the key reason for his choice.
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The endorsement adds further weight to Messi’s claim for another individual honour.
September 15, (THEWILL) – Diego Simeone has firmly backed Lionel Messi to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting there is no doubt in his mind that the Argentina captain deserves the prestigious individual award.
Simeone was asked about the Ballon d’Or debate and immediately placed Messi at the top of his list, highlighting what the veteran forward achieved during the 2026 World Cup.
“The 2026 Ballon d’Or has to be Leo Messi. Zero doubts”, Simeone said.
The Atlético Madrid manager was particularly impressed by Messi’s performance at the World Cup, where the Argentine continued to produce at the highest level despite entering the tournament at 39.
“With the World Cup he had at that age… no doubts”, Simeone added.
For Simeone, Messi’s age makes his achievements even more remarkable. Rather than simply relying on his reputation, the forward continued to influence Argentina’s campaign and showed that he could still perform on football’s biggest international stage.
The endorsement from Simeone comes as the 2026 Ballon d’Or debate gathers momentum, with several leading players also expected to compete for the award. Names such as Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Rodri are among those likely to feature prominently in the discussion.
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But Simeone’s position is unequivocal. The Atlético boss believes Messi’s World Cup performance should be enough to put him ahead of the competition.
Messi has already won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times, with his most recent triumph coming after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory. Another success would further extend his record and provide another remarkable chapter to his individual career.
At 39, Messi continues to attract the same level of admiration that has followed him throughout his career. For Simeone, the debate over who should win the 2026 award has a straightforward answer.
Lionel Messi, and, in Simeone’s words, there are “zero doubts”.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
