Casemiro: Messi Still Deserves the Ballon d'Or
Casemiro insists Lionel Messi still deserves the Ballon d'Or, citing his World Cup exploits and prolific scoring form for Inter Miami this season.
Casemiro says Lionel Messi deserves this year's Ballon d'Or, pointing to the Argentinian's displays at the 2026 World Cup and his form since for Inter Miami.
"The Ballon d'Or? Messi is still the best. He proved it at the World Cup and he keeps proving it in MLS. Everything becomes easier with him on the pitch. The Ballon d'Or goes to those who play in European football, ignoring what happens in America, but Messi can win it... People need to see what he did at the World Cup, that's very important," Casemiro told MessiXtra.
Messi scored 8 goals and added four assists in eight matches as Argentina went through the tournament in Mexico, the United States and Canada. He is one of 30 nominees for the award, which will be handed out in London on 26 October.
Casemiro's case rests as much on club form as on the World Cup. Messi has scored 19 times for Inter Miami this season, well clear of Luis Suárez on 13 and Germán Berterame on 7, with the side sitting second in MLS on 46 points from 26 matches. Ballon d'Or voting has traditionally favoured players in Europe's top leagues over anyone in MLS.
The nomination also lands days before Messi, 39, brings down the curtain on his international career, with a farewell appearance for Argentina against Benin at River Plate's Monumental on 6 October.
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