The Ballon d'Or 2026 saw Harry Kane become the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the award. But one man was missing from the event despite being nominated. Yes, we speak of Lionel Messi. The 39-year-old, who played his last game for Argentina vs Benin on October 6, was not present at London Palladium.

What Is the Messi Cup?

So why was the Barcelona and Argentina legend missing? Two factors played a part in it. The first reason is the Messi Cup. It's an Under-16 competition in the USA run by his company, so he opted to stay. This is in its second year and an international youth competition. The current edition began on October 25 and shall end on November 1 so it clashed with the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

© X/Inter Miami CF

Packed Inter Miami Schedule

The second reason is the schedule of his club Inter Miami. They played the New York Red Bulls on October 24, and on October 28, they will take on Cincinnati in the MLS. If he had travelled to London, Messi would have had no recovery time between the games. Plus, he had just returned from Spain after accepting the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports 2026.

Dominating Ballon d'Or

This was Messi's 17th nomination, and he leads the pack with eight Ballon d'Ors. Cristiano Ronaldo is 2nd with five but has the most nominations with 18. Messi also is the only player to win four trophies between 2009 and 2012. When he won it in 2023, he became the only player to get the award while playing for a team outside of Europe.

© X/Inter Miami CF

Lionel Messi's Hall of Fame

Messi retired with 126 goals in 208 games for Argentina. He has a total of 936 career goals. The man led Argentina to one FIFA World Cup crown, two Copa Americas and one Finalissima title. Not to mention the multiple titles he has won with Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi's Legacy

His international career is over, but the club career is still active. It remains to be seen when he calls time and brings down the curtain. The legacy shall be unmatched for the GOAT and the man many hail as the best footballer on the planet.