David Beckham Backs Lionel Messi for 2026 Ballon d’Or After 100th Inter Miami Goal
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham believes Lionel Messi deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or after the 39-year-old scored his 100th goal for the club in their Campeones Cup victory. Messi, an eight-time winner, is on the 30-player shortlist, with the award ceremony set for October 26 in London. Beckham highlighted Messi's ongoing high-level performance, especially following his World Cup contributions.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham has backed Lionel Messi to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after the Argentine scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from a Luis Suárez assist before later setting up Casemiro’s 81st-minute goal from a corner. The victory gave Inter Miami its first Campeones Cup title, with Messi named the match’s Most Valuable Player.
Beckham praised Messi’s continued performances at 39, arguing that his level remains exceptional and saying, “He deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, he should win it.”
Messi is among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, alongside players including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and defending winner Ousmane Dembélé. The award will be presented at the London Palladium on October 26, marking the first time the ceremony will be held outside Paris.
Messi enters the race as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and reached the 2026 World Cup final with Argentina, while his latest Inter Miami milestone adds another notable achievement to his season. His 100th Miami goal came against Cruz Azul, the same club against which he scored his first goal for the team in 2023. With the Ballon