Petr Čech Picks Lionel Messi as His Favorite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or

2026 Ballon d’Or predictions have taken another interesting turn after Chelsea legend Petr Čech identified Lionel Messi as his preferred candidate for the prestigious individual award. The former goalkeeper, who faced Messi several times during his Chelsea career, believes the Argentine still has a strong chance of claiming the Golden Ball.

France Football’s 30-player shortlist includes Messi alongside several of the world’s biggest football stars. The Argentine enters the race at 39 years old after another remarkable campaign for club and country, making his inclusion one of the most notable aspects of this year’s award.

Messi’s case is built around his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, his success with Inter Miami and his extraordinary individual record. However, the competition is particularly strong, with several players combining outstanding statistics with major international and club trophies.

Petr Čech backs Lionel Messi for the 2026 Ballon d’Or

Čech was recently asked who he believed could win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The former Chelsea goalkeeper pointed toward Messi, saying the Inter Miami forward has a strong chance of taking the award.

The endorsement carries additional interest because Čech experienced Messi’s quality first-hand during his playing career. Their meetings in the UEFA Champions League gave the former goalkeeper an opportunity to compete against one of the greatest players in football history.

Čech’s prediction does not guarantee that Messi will win, but it highlights how strongly his performances are still being viewed even at this stage of his career.

Messi’s 2026 World Cup campaign strengthens his case

One of the strongest arguments for Messi is his contribution to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. Although Argentina ultimately lost the final to Spain 1-0 and could not successfully defend their world title, Messi remained one of the tournament’s most influential attacking players.

He scored eight goals during the tournament, finishing behind France forward Kylian Mbappe in the scoring standings. Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals.

Messi also moved beyond Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 World Cup goals. That achievement added another historic milestone to his international career.

Inter Miami success adds another layer to Messi’s candidacy

Messi’s Ballon d’Or argument is not based solely on his international performances. His club achievements with Inter Miami also form an important part of his case.

The Argentine helped Miami win the 2025 MLS Cup, with the club defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final. That success provided another major trophy to a career that has already featured an extraordinary collection of team and individual honors.

For Ballon d’Or voters, the combination of club success and international influence can be particularly important. Messi’s ability to remain a decisive player for both Miami and Argentina has therefore kept him firmly within the conversation.

Messi could win a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or

Messi already holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or victories, having won the award eight times. Cristiano Ronaldo follows him with five.

A ninth triumph would extend Messi’s advantage at the top of the award’s all-time winners list and add another extraordinary chapter to his career.

His nomination is also historic because of his age. At 39, Messi is the oldest player in the 21st century to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

He has also extended the period between his first and latest nominations. Messi was first nominated in 2006 and has now been shortlisted again in 2026, creating a 20-year span between nominations.

Kylian Mbappe presents one of the biggest challenges

Messi’s strongest competition includes several players who enjoyed outstanding seasons. Kylian Mbappe is one of the most obvious challengers after another prolific campaign for club and country.

The France forward scored 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer. His scoring output gives him a powerful statistical argument against Messi.

Mbappe’s candidacy is particularly compelling because he represents the next generation of global football superstars, while Messi is attempting to win the award at an age when most players have already moved away from the highest level.

Ousmane Dembele brings major club trophies into the race

Ousmane Dembele is another serious contender on the 30-player shortlist. His case is different from Messi’s and Mbappe’s because his campaign was strongly supported by major club achievements.

Dembele helped Paris Saint-Germain win both the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1. He also contributed to France’s successful World Cup campaign.

The combination of Champions League success and international performance could make Dembele an especially strong candidate when voters compare trophy-winning campaigns.

Harry Kane’s numbers make him a major contender

Harry Kane also enters the Ballon d’Or race after a remarkable season with Bayern Munich and England.

The striker scored a career-best 61 goals in all competitions for Bayern during the previous campaign and helped the club secure the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double.

Kane continued his scoring form with England at the World Cup, where he registered six goals as the Three Lions finished with the bronze medal.

His candidacy is therefore based on an unusually strong combination of individual production and domestic silverware.

Rodri and Spain add another trophy-based argument

Spain midfielder Rodri is also among the nominated players after helping his country win the 2026 World Cup.

Spain’s triumph was historically significant, giving the nation only its second World Cup title. Rodri’s presence on the shortlist demonstrates that the award is not exclusively about goals and attacking statistics.

A player’s influence on a successful team can be just as important, particularly when that player occupies a central role in controlling matches.

Other stars remain in contention

The 2026 shortlist features several other elite names who could challenge Messi. Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Luis Diaz are all included in the race.

Each candidate brings a different argument to the award. Some rely heavily on goals, others on trophies, while players such as Bellingham and Rodri can point toward their broader influence on successful teams.

Messi’s biggest advantage is the scale of his achievement

The strongest argument for Messi may be the combination of his age, longevity and continued importance at the highest level.

At 39, simply remaining among the leading candidates is an extraordinary achievement. Winning the award would be even more significant because Messi would be doing so against players who are considerably younger and producing exceptional numbers during their own peak years.

His eight World Cup goals also provide a strong tournament-based argument, even though Argentina did not lift the trophy. Meanwhile, his MLS Cup success gives his club campaign additional weight.

The key question for voters will therefore be whether Messi’s individual influence and historic World Cup performance outweigh the stronger trophy and statistical cases presented by some of his rivals.

Messi vs Mbappe: the biggest individual comparison

The contrast between Messi and Mbappe could become one of the defining themes of the award discussion.

Mbappe has the advantage in World Cup goals and won the Golden Boot, while Messi offers the broader historical narrative and also produced eight goals during Argentina’s run to the final.

That makes the comparison more complicated than simply counting goals. Voters must consider overall influence, team success, performances in important matches and the quality of each player’s complete campaign.

What could decide the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

The final outcome is likely to depend on how voters weigh three major factors: individual performance, team trophies and international impact.

Messi has strong evidence in all three categories, but several rivals may have an advantage in individual areas. Dembele can point to the Champions League, Kane has extraordinary scoring numbers and domestic trophies, while Mbappe has the World Cup Golden Boot.

That makes the 2026 race considerably more competitive than simply assuming the most famous player will win.

Final Verdict

Petr Čech’s choice of Lionel Messi as his 2026 Ballon d’Or favorite reflects the Argentine’s continued ability to compete for football’s biggest individual honor.

Messi enters the race after scoring eight goals at the World Cup, helping Inter Miami win the MLS Cup and reaching another historic milestone by becoming the oldest player in the 21st century to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination.

However, the competition is formidable. Mbappe’s Golden Boot, Dembele’s European success, Kane’s extraordinary goalscoring season and Rodri’s World Cup triumph all provide compelling alternatives.

Messi may have Čech’s vote, but the final decision will depend on how Ballon d’Or voters balance statistics, trophies and individual influence. A ninth Golden Ball would be one of the most remarkable achievements of Messi’s already historic career.