Messi is first choice of six countries in 2026 Ballon d’Or voting

Lionel Messi, despite finishing outside the podium, proved an extremely respected figure in the 2026 Ballon d’Or vote, receiving the backing of six countries that ranked him first. The Argentine finished fifth overall, but his influence was enough for nations such as Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates and China to name him the best player in the world.

The details were published by France Football and subsequently analysed by the Spanish newspaper AS. The situation contrasts sharply with that of France’s Ousmane Dembélé, who won the award in 2025 but received no first-place votes this year, finishing seventh in the final standings.

Kylian Mbappé, who finished fifth, also did not fare notably well in terms of votes, with one voter from Paraguay placing him third and nine of the 20 African countries choosing him as their first option. However, he was unable to beat the competition, as Dembélé’s ranking included second place on the lists of seven countries, including Burkina Faso and France.

Erling Haaland, for his part, also failed to attract the necessary support, finishing without a single first-place vote, although he was picked second by representatives from Croatia, Northern Ireland and Norway. Michael Olise was the only player to receive a first-place vote from a journalist representing Curaçao.

This picture raises questions about the distribution of votes and how players are perceived in different parts of the world. Messi’s strong showing in the voting, even without reaching a higher position, demonstrates his resilience and his image as one of the greatest in the history of football. The lack of support for other elite players, such as Dembélé and Haaland, could affect their careers and the way they are viewed in the coming years.

With the 2026 Ballon d’Or results now revealed, it will be interesting to see how the players respond to this dynamic and what strategies they might adopt to recover their standing in future editions. The impact of these votes could resonate in the coming seasons and in clubs’ decisions regarding their squads.