Messi tops Ballon d'Or ranking ahead of 2026 World Cup final

Just days before the 2026 World Cup final, 39-year-old Lionel Messi has reclaimed top spot in the Ballon d'Or favourites ranking. A win in Sunday's final could deliver him a record ninth Ballon d'Or. The match is described as a clash of giants, with everything at stake for Messi's legacy.