Lionel Messi names players he expects to fight for “hotly-contested” Ballon d’Or in coming years

Lionel Messi (36) won his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday night in Paris, and as he told L’Équipe, he expects it to be his last. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has now revealed the players that he expects to contest the prize in the coming years. 

Messi beat Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and PSG’s Kylian Mbappé to the Ballon d’Or this year. For many years, the prize has been contested between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, however, the latter was not even shortlisted for the prize this year. The years of Messi-Ronaldo dominance therefore look to have come to an end and a new generation, led by Mbappé and Haaland, who both secured their highest finishes, is emerging. 

In an interview with L’Équipe, Messi revealed the players that he expects to compete for the Ballon d’Or in the coming years. “For a few years, we have seen players that can win it coming through,” began the Inter Miami forward. 

He added, “It could be hotly contested in the coming years with players like Haaland, Mbappé and Vinicíus Juinor. There are lots of young players that will fight for the Ballon d’Or. I also think that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young but who has already played very well with Barcelona and has become an important player [could compete]. There will certainly be others who will fight for it as well with other players yet to appear. It will be a new era.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle