Eduard Mor, a former Spartak Moscow player, shared his view on who dominates the Golden Ball conversation. He sees Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team as the frontrunners for the prize. Mor’s remarks were reported by Match TV, highlighting the current belief that Messi is in a class of his own this season.
According to Mor, the standout rival for Messi is the player who recently cemented his status as a global force. He noted that Messi has already clinched the world title and added another league crown, underscoring the weight of those achievements on the Golden Ball discussion. While Erling Haaland continues to pile up goals for Manchester City, Mor argues that Haaland’s influence on the national team is not as pronounced as Messi’s, which could tilt the vote in Messi’s favor. The emphasis lies on the comprehensive impact Messi has demonstrated across international competition and club play, which Mor believes solidly justifies top recognition for the Ballon dOr winner this year.
France Football magazine is the benchmark for the award, and on the eve of its announcement, a list of thirty players was unveiled as contenders for the Golden Ball. The anticipation around the roster reflects the high expectations fans and pundits place on this year’s discussion, with Messi consistently cited among the elite names expected to feature prominently on the final ballot.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami occurred in the summer of 2023 after a lengthy spell with Paris Saint-Germain. Across his early appearances for the club, he opened with a memorable free kick, signaling that his talent remained at the elite level. The early momentum of his campaign set the tone for the season, though a noted scoring run stalled after nine matches, a brief pause in a journey that has been filled with record-breaking moments and cultural impact beyond the pitch. The narrative around Messi at Inter Miami encompasses not only his on-field contributions but also the broader influence he has had on the growth of the league and the sport in North America.
Earlier reporting highlighted a striking development in the Golden Ball landscape: Cristiano Ronaldo, the veteran Portuguese forward, was not included in the list of contenders for the first time in nearly two decades. This absence from the initial roster underscores the evolving competition and the emergence of new benchmarks for excellence, where Messi’s continued excellence is weighed against a fresh wave of performers showcasing their own case for the award. The shifting dynamics of who is considered a top contender reflect ongoing conversations about consistency, impact in major competitions, and the ability to influence results across different leagues and stages.