David Beckham Names Player Who Deserves to Win 2026 Ballon d’Or

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Former Man Utd star David Beckham names the player who deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or

Former Manchester United and England icon David Beckham is in no doubt about who should win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, revealing his pick for football's most prestigious individual honour this week.

Now a football club owner with Inter Miami, the 51-year-old remains a very big part of the beautiful game. As a member of the Red Devils' famed Class of '92, a former captain of his country, and someone who won nearly everything during his playing career from the Premier League to the Champions League, he's one of few names who should have a big say on who deserves to be named the best player in the world.

Ahead of October's ceremony, taking place in Paris, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and a few others are emerging as the favourites to lift the famous Golden Ball.

But while those names have been on everyone's lips, Beckham has snubbed all of them to heap praise on someone else ahead of the highly-anticipated event.

The Inter Miami co-owner thinks that Lionel Messi deserves to win his record-extending ninth Ballon d'Or next month. Beckham made his comments after the Argentina legend scored his 100th goal for the MLS side on Wednesday night in a 2-0 victory in the Campeones Cup final. He said:

> "When you see him do things like this tonight, when you see him have the World Cup that he had, it's not luck that he's being considered for the Ballon d'Or again. It's not luck, because he was probably the best player at the tournament, he had an incredible year last year. > > "To be 39 and effect the World Cup, and every game he played, the way he did, it's special. No one at that age is doing that, and at that level. In my opinion, he should win it [the Ballon d'Or."

> He continued: "You've got great players there like Harry Kane, like Kylian [Mbappe], like Jude Bellingham and other players there, but you know when you're talking about Leo, I'm his biggest supporter."

Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists to help his country reach the final against Spain. He is the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 21 goals, one behind France's Mbappe, and many will argue he deserved the Player of the Tournament award more than eventual recipient Rodri.

Messi, unfortunately, can't get any votes for his contributions at club level now that he plays outside of Europe. But that hasn't stopped him from breaking new ground and rewriting the script in North America.

In midweek, he became the first Inter Miami player to reach a century of goals after he headed home a cross from Luis Suarez in the 24th minute, and he is the fastest player in MLS history to reach that figure across all competitions.

After having joined from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, Messi is already among the greatest players in the competition's history. And while he may have retired from international football following the passing of his father, it feels like he could play for an eternity - something Beckham admitted hopes will be the case.

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