Messi Leads Argentina to 2026 World Cup Final, Eyes Ninth Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi, in the 92nd minute of the World Cup semi-final against England, was pushed towards the right flank by Nico O'Reilly and Jaden Spence, with England's supporters watching with bated breath. Four tall 'Three Lions' players stood inside the six-yard box, and the Argentinian captain needed an extremely precise and flawless cross to reach Lautaro Martinez at the far post. But, the world knows that Messi can make the impossible possible at any moment.

Exactly that happened. His precise cross reached Martinez's head, and the ball found the net, evading Jordan Pickford. With this, Argentina secured a 2-1 comeback victory, advancing to the final of the 2026 World Cup.

More than the goalscorer Martinez, most of Argentina's players and coach ran towards Messi. That scene once again proved how great a source of inspiration he is for the team, even at the age of 39. It was also a tribute from the team for him once again lifting his country from a difficult situation and taking them to the final.

In the last 30 minutes of the match, Messi dismantled England's defense. Although coach Thomas Tuchel's defensive strategy gave him some ease, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner ruthlessly exploited it. Because of this performance, his chances of winning a ninth Ballon d'Or this year have become strong. In the expanded World Cup, he has emerged as the most impressive player.

If he performs similarly in the final against Spain and Lamine Yamal, who is considered his successor at Barcelona, his ninth Ballon d'Or will be almost certain. Although Argentina is considered the weaker team on paper in the final, if Spain makes even a small mistake, Argentina's chances of retaining the title are very strong. The team's unwavering confidence and Messi's insatiable hunger to win are the main foundations for this.

• A Team That Fights Uniquely

Before the semi-final, Argentina's performance in North America was not very impressive. Although they easily passed the group stage, they had to struggle hard against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland in the knockout rounds. Two of those matches went into extra time.

In Qatar 2022, Argentina was a more balanced team. Nine players from the title-winning team were not in the squad this time. The absence of Angel Di Maria, in particular, significantly affected the team.

Without Di Maria, Argentina has not been able to expand attacks from the right and left flanks. Due to a narrow midfield, opponents are getting many open spaces for counter-attacks.

However, Argentina's greatest strength is their fighting spirit. This team does not give up until the final whistle. The more the pressure increases, the better their performance becomes.

Moreover, on the field, they have a calm and experienced leader like Messi. He always asks for the ball, drives the team forward, and never shies away from taking responsibility in difficult moments. Coach Lionel Scaloni's team draws energy from Messi's presence and keeps fighting until the end.

• A Player Who Is Never Afraid to Take Risks

Messi's quality and humility still seem incredible today. While his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo's career is declining in its final stages, Messi is not basking in his own glory.

The Inter Miami captain appears to be walking more than other players in this World Cup. Sometimes he even looks like an ordinary player, as he did in the first half against England. But, in crucial moments, he still has the ability to deliver a performance of another level.

Against England, he provided two assists and made nine successful dribbles. This is the first such achievement in a World Cup knockout stage.

Currently, he is at the top of the Golden Boot race with eight goals. He has also provided four assists, which is just one less than the tournament's top assist provider, Michael Olise.

But more important than statistics, every decision Messi makes has a clear purpose. Where many players play safe passes, Messi prefers to take risky but game-changing passes or dribble past opponents alone. Even after a career spanning over two decades, opponents have not found a way to stop him.

• 'I Want to Enjoy the Game Now'

Many believe Messi's long-term success is solely due to innate talent. However, his hard work and patience are often overlooked. Before the World Cup, he had not clarified for a long time whether he would play in his sixth World Cup or not. His stance was that he would only join the national team if he could contribute at a high level.

After defeating England, he said, "I have been preparing for this tournament for a year. I have done everything to reach the best condition. Now I just want to enjoy the game. Whether this is my last World Cup or not, I am not thinking about it right now."

He added, "This team never stops trying. We came onto the field with a love for football and a strong will to win, and we have reached the World Cup final again."

In the Qatar World Cup, Messi's only goal was to win the title. He was under immense pressure then. Now, however, he appears calmer and is enjoying the game more than before.

• Opportunity to Surpass Yamal

It will not be easy for Spain to replicate the dominance they showed against France against Argentina. Spain completely neutralized France's Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.

However, Argentina is a mentally very strong team. Coach Scaloni will surely have a plan to stop Lamine Yamal. Although Yamal has shown glimpses of his talent in this World Cup, he has not yet reached his full form. Therefore, his chances of equaling Messi in the competition for the Golden Ball or Ballon d'Or after the final seem very slim.

Only if Spain wins and Yamal scores many goals will his chances become strong. Otherwise, due to Harry Kane's excellent season in club football and Messi's impressive performance in the World Cup, Messi will remain at the forefront.

• Can Win Even Playing Outside Europe?

With Argentina reaching the final in the World Cup, captain Messi is expected to win his ninth Ballon d'Or if he wins the title. Amidst this debate, the official 'X' (Twitter) account of the Ballon d'Or has also raised an important question - 'Can one win the Ballon d'Or without playing for a European club?'

The answer given by the award organizers is clearly 'Yes'. According to the organizers, the Ballon d'Or, established by France Football magazine in 1956, was initially awarded only to the best European player playing in a European league.

From 1995 onwards, players from all over the world were eligible, but they had to be affiliated with a European club. However, from 2007, that restriction was completely removed. Since then, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the best player in the world, regardless of which continent's club they play for.

• Messi: The Only Player to Win Ballon d'Or While Playing Outside Europe

Lionel Messi is the only player so far to have won the Ballon d'Or while playing for a club outside Europe. However, there is a special aspect to this. According to the official website of the Ballon d'Or, since 2022, the award evaluation is done based on the season (August to July) rather than the calendar year.

Therefore, even though Messi received the Ballon d'Or in 2023 while at Inter Miami, the jury primarily evaluated his performance at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). After winning the World Cup, he left PSG that same season and moved to Inter Miami.

Now, if Argentina wins the 2026 World Cup, the question of whether Messi, having left European football, can win the Ballon d'Or by playing entirely for Inter Miami, has once again come to the center of world football.