Mac Allister backs Messi for ninth Ballon d'Or but says trophy 'not a big deal' for him

Alexis Mac Allister has backed Lionel Messi to claim a record ninth Ballon d’Or, but insists the 39-year-old Inter Miami forward would not be troubled if the award went elsewhere when the ceremony is held in London later this year.

Messi, who has won the Golden Ball more times than any other player in history, is among the nominees despite not being considered a frontrunner. His candidacy rests primarily on his performances at the World Cup this summer, where Argentina reached the final before losing to Spain. He retired from international football last month, stating he had “nothing left to give” after a career that yielded a World Cup and two Copa Americas with Argentina.

“As Argentines we’d love for Messi to win it,” Mac Allister told reporters. “He had an incredible World Cup and I don’t see why he shouldn’t be awarded it. Also, it’s understood that these days the numbers play a big part — something that didn’t carry as much weight in the past — and you don’t know exactly what people are voting for either.”

The Liverpool midfielder was candid about Messi’s relationship with individual accolades. “We all know that Leo has always prioritised the team over individual achievements, so it wouldn’t be a big deal for him,” he added.

Messi faces stiff competition from a field that includes Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe. Yamal won both the World Cup and La Liga with Spain and Barcelona respectively, while his compatriot Rodri — the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner — was named best player at the World Cup. Kane broke multiple records at Bayern Munich as the German side dominated the Bundesliga, though they were eliminated at the Champions League semi-finals and he was knocked out of the World Cup at the same stage. Mbappe, now the all-time leading scorer at World Cups, endured a trophyless domestic season with Real Madrid.

Kane is bidding to become the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, adding a historic dimension to what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive votes in recent years.

Messi’s last Ballon d’Or came in 2023, awarded on the strength of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar. Whether his final international chapter proves enough to earn him a ninth remains to be seen when the votes are counted in London.