Messi will not attend 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony: the reason

Messi will skip the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London tonight despite being a finalist, citing travel fatigue after recent trips across Spain, New York and Miami.

Lionel Messi will not attend the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London this evening, despite being selected as one of 30 finalists by France Football. According to Argentine newspaper Olé, the forward has chosen to skip the event after numerous trips in recent weeks between Spain, New York and Miami, preferring to avoid further travel and focus on managing his commitments.

Messi will still finish in the top ten of the voting despite his absence. The speculation around his non-attendance has fuelled discussion about the award's outcome. Lamine Yamal is reportedly the leading candidate for the prize, with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé also among the favourites, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is seen as a longer shot.