Zidane backs Messi for Ballon d’Or despite Mbappe and Dembele nominations

Zinedine Zidane has thrown his support behind Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or race, insisting he would vote for the Argentine legend despite the presence of several French stars among this year’s nominees.

The former France international and Real Madrid manager was speaking about the prestigious individual award following the announcement of the nominees on Tuesday, September 8. The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 26, when the world’s best player will be crowned.

While many expected Zidane to back one of France’s leading stars, particularly Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe or Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele, the French football icon instead named Messi as his preferred choice.

Zidane remains in awe of Messi’s quality and believes the Inter Miami forward continues to deserve recognition at the highest level, even at the age of 39.

“I think people don’t realize how valuable it is to be among the nominees for the best player in the world award when you are 39 years old,” Zidane said.

The former World Cup winner went even further in his admiration for Messi, declaring that he would vote for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner without hesitation.

“I will vote for Messi 100 times for the Ballon d’Or, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won the award this year,” he added.

Zidane also appeared to put an end to any debate over Messi’s status as the greatest footballer in history, arguing that those who continue to question the Argentine’s place at the top may not fully appreciate his impact on the game.

“If anyone has any doubts about the debate over who is the best player in history, then frankly, that person has no place in the world of football,” he concluded.

Messi is already the most decorated player in Ballon d’Or history, having won the award eight times. His closest rival in terms of victories is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has claimed the prestigious honour five times.

The Argentine’s latest nomination comes despite him now playing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where he continues to attract global attention and produce impressive individual performances.

Zidane’s comments are particularly notable because France has several strong contenders in the 2026 Ballon d’Or race. Mbappe has publicly expressed his ambition to finally win the award, with the Real Madrid forward maintaining that his performances make him deserving of the honour.

Mbappe has previously made it clear that winning the Ballon d’Or remains one of his major individual objectives. The French superstar believes he has reached a level where he can legitimately be regarded as the best player in the world.

Dembele, meanwhile, is also among the French players attracting significant attention in the race, making Zidane’s decision to overlook both players particularly striking.

With the final vote still to come and the ceremony set for October 26, the battle for the Ballon d’Or is expected to generate plenty of debate, with Messi’s continued presence among the nominees adding another fascinating chapter to his extraordinary individual career.