Argentina in the World Cup Final: Messi on the Verge of Historic Ballon d'Or Chance

The tournament is being held in North America. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and kicks off at 9:00 p.m. In Austria, ORF1 will broadcast the match live, and Sport24 will also offer a live ticker.

Regardless of the outcome of the final, a personal premiere is shaping up for Messi. Should he receive the Ballon d'Or again, he would be the first male professional in the history of the award to win the trophy for a season in which he was not under contract with a European club. The 39-year-old currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

A Rule Change Since 2007

The regulation that opened the Ballon d'Or to players outside Europe has been in effect since 2007. Since then, however, no male professional playing for a non-European club has been able to win the award. Megan Rapinoe triumphed in 2019 as a player for Seattle Reign FC and was the only recipient since the rule change to make that leap.

Messi has won the Ballon d'Or eight times to date, holding the record as the all-time most decorated winner. His most recent title dates from 2023, when his performances at Paris Saint-Germain as well as for the Argentine national team were taken into account. The seven awards prior to that had been given predominantly for his appearances at FC Barcelona.

Record Chase and Outlook

At the ongoing World Cup, Messi has scored eight goals and shares the lead in the tournament's scoring charts with France's Kylian Mbappé. A ninth Ballon d'Or would further extend his record as the most successful recipient of all time.

Should Messi claim his second World Cup title with Argentina on Sunday, it would serve as an additional argument for his being voted world player of the year once again. Argentina celebrated its first World Cup triumph in 2022. Against Spain, the team now has the chance at a successful title defense.

With a view to the history of the Ballon d'Or, a Messi success this year would be a genuine novelty. Never before has a male professional playing in North America received the most prestigious individual award in world football.

For Argentina, the focus is first and foremost on the final against Spain. Should the team win and Messi once again be individually honored, an extraordinary chapter in the career of the exceptional player would come to a close.

The award is traditionally given at the end of the respective calendar year. Should Messi, after the World Cup title with Argentina, also win the Ballon d'Or vote, it would be a historic success away from the traditional centers of European football.