Lionel Messi may hand the Ballon d'Or to the 2026 winner in London

Reports on 15 October 2026 indicate that Lionel Messi is expected to attend the Ballon d'Or gala in London and may personally hand the trophy to this year’s winner, a development that would draw special attention given his record eight awards.

Unconfirmed appearance and role

Independent Spanish sports journalist Juan Jesús published a report saying Messi could be present at the ceremony and that he might arrive with his family. The post spread quickly across social networks, fuelling speculation among fans and media.

Neither Messi nor the event organisers have issued an official confirmation of his attendance or of any planned role on the night. France Football and UEFA have also not commented on the rumours.

The story is particularly notable because Messi is one of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward returned to the list after missing the previous two editions.

Messi’s recent numbers are strong: he led Argentina to the World Cup final and recorded 8 goals and 4 assists in 8 matches for his national side. At club level, he scored 23 goals and supplied 11 assists in the MLS regular season for Inter Miami.

Until an official statement appears, it remains uncertain whether the Argentine legend will hand the trophy to another player — or whether he himself could go on stage to accept a ninth Ballon d'Or.

Photo: press material from the event