Lionel Messi has shared his thoughts on the potential future winners of the Ballon d’Or, a prestigious award he and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated for the past 15 years. Messi recently clinched his eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris, surpassing his Portuguese rival in the number of trophies.
He triumphed over stiff competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe to claim the award. When asked about his thoughts on the future winners, Messi told L’Equipe, “In the upcoming years, we’ll see some talented players contending for it. It’s going to be a competitive race with players like Haaland, Mbappé, and Vinicius Junior.”
He further added, “There are many young talents who will be vying for the Ballon d’Or. I also believe that Lamine Yamal, although quite young, has already demonstrated his skills with Barcelona and could become a significant contender.”
Messi concluded, “There will certainly be others who will join the race, including players we haven’t even seen yet. It heralds a new era for the award.”
