Lionel Messi Misses Ballon dOr Top 20 Shortlist
The 39-year-old Argentina forward did not appear on the latest list despite reaching the 2026 World Cup final.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Soccer
Live Poll
Do you believe older athletes should continue competing at the highest professional levels?
Ballon d'Or organizers released a 20-name shortlist for the 2026 award that excludes Lionel Messi. This marks a notable absence for the 39-year-old following his run to the 2026 World Cup final.
Why it matters
Messi remains one of the oldest players to command such high-level recognition, though his omission from the shortlist signals a shift in the current award cycle. His performance in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain remains a high-water mark for his recent career output.
Lionel Messi is 39 years and four months old, placing him just younger than Gianluigi Buffon, who was 39 years and 10 months old when he last reached the top 10 in 2017. The current shortlist includes only 20 players.
The players
Lionel Messi
An Argentine professional soccer player who is 39 years and four months old.
Gianluigi Buffon
An Italian former professional soccer player who held the previous age record for a top 10 finalist.
The details
Stats Foot compiled the age statistics highlighting that Messi is the oldest player to feature prominently in recent Ballon d'Or cycles since Buffon's 2017 appearance. Although Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final, the team ultimately fell to Spain, impacting the selection criteria for this year's shortlist.
Timeline
December 7, 2017: Gianluigi Buffon reached the Ballon d'Or top 10.
2026: Lionel Messi competed in the World Cup.
Season Trajectory
This exclusion marks a departure from the historical dominance of long-standing veterans in the annual Ballon d'Or rankings. By comparing current rosters to the 2017 Ballon d'Or top 10 selection, analysts are mapping the twilight of the sport's most legendary careers.
Messi's omission from the 20-name shortlist removes him from contention for the 2026 award entirely. Fans and analysts now focus exclusively on the remaining 20 candidates who remain active in the voting process.
The takeaway
The absence of Messi from the shortlist highlights the natural transition occurring in global soccer as new stars emerge. Readers can observe that even after World Cup final appearances, historical award recognition is becoming increasingly difficult for players approaching age 40.
Further reading
For more on international match developments, visit Soccer.
Live Poll
Do you believe older athletes should continue competing at the highest professional levels?
