Matthäus says World Cup win would not be enough for Messi to claim Ballon d'Or

German football legend Lothar Matthäus has said Lionel Messi has little chance of winning this year's Ballon d'Or or The Best award, citing the Argentine's move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Matthäus argued that the standard of MLS cannot be compared with Europe's top leagues, weakening Messi's case for individual honors. Matthäus said Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Erling Haaland are better positioned for individual awards because of their performances in the Champions League and other top-tier competitions. He added that even a World Cup victory would not be enough to lift Messi to the Ballon d'Or. Argentina is preparing to face Switzerland in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday.