Nasri, Benatia question Messi’s fifth-place finish in 2026 Ballon d’Or

Former footballers Samir Nasri and Mehdi Benatia have criticised Lionel Messi’s fifth-place finish in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, arguing that his performances did not merit a place among the top contenders.

According to Báo Dân trí, Benatia questioned Messi’s ranking because the Argentine spent most of the season with Inter Miami in the United States, while making his mark at the 2026 World Cup.

The former Juventus player asked: “Messi spent the whole year at Inter Miami and then finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or race? Do European football fans watch Messi more than Michael Olise?”

Nasri, a former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder, also rejected Messi’s position, saying on the Les Affranchis programme: “I exclude Rodri. I exclude Messi. Neither of them deserves to be in the top 10 for the Ballon d’Or.”

Nasri also questioned Rodri’s fourth-place finish and argued that the award should reflect performances throughout the season, particularly in elite competitions such as the Champions League.

He further expressed surprise that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whom he described as the Champions League’s best player and a treble winner, finished behind Messi.