Lionel Messi has shared his thoughts on the potential winners of the Ballon d’Or in the upcoming years. Over the last 15 years, both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the prestigious award. Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, recently secured his eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris, surpassing his Portuguese rival in total trophies. He faced tough competition from Manchester City, Erling Haaland, and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe but emerged victorious.
When asked about who he believes might clinch the award in the future, Messi told L’Equipe, “For a few years, we have seen emerging talents who could win it. It’s likely to be a hotly contested race in the years to come, with players like Haaland, Mbappé, and Vinicius Junior. There are plenty of young talents who will be vying for the Ballon d’Or. I also think Lamine Yamal, although still very young, has shown promise with Barcelona and could be a contender. And there will certainly be others, yet to make their mark, who will join the competition. It’s the dawn of a new era.”