Despite finishing fifth in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or rankings, Lionel Messi received first-place votes from six countries, including traditional rivals Brazil.
The voting breakdown released by France Football on its website on Friday showed that journalists representing Argentina, Brazil, Belarus, China, Panama and the United Arab Emirates ranked the Inter Miami forward as the best player in the world.
Each journalist’s first-place selection earned Messi 15 points, contributing to his final tally of 612 points.
The 39-year-old finished fifth in the overall rankings, behind winner Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Rodri.
Brazil’s decision to rank Messi first was among the notable voting choices, given the country’s long-standing football rivalry with Argentina.
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Kane won the award with 1,055 points, just 28 ahead of Mbappé, who finished second with 1,027 points. Yamal came third with 881 points, while Rodri occupied fourth position with 726 points.
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