French football legend Zinedine Zidane has thrown his support behind Lionel Messi in the long-running debate over the greatest footballer of all time, arguing that anyone who still doubts the Argentine’s status does not understand the game.
Zidane’s comments come as Messi prepares to compete for another Ballon d’Or after being included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 award. The Argentine remains the most decorated player in the history of the prize, having won it a record eight times.
The former Real Madrid manager was particularly impressed by Messi’s ability to remain among the world’s leading players at the age of 39.
“I think people really don’t understand how incredible it is to still be among the best players in the world at 39 years old,” Zidane said.
His comments add another high-profile voice to the GOAT debate, with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having dominated discussions about football’s greatest players for more than a decade.
Zidane says Messi deserves another Ballon d’Or
Messi’s inclusion on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist means he remains in contention for the individual prize despite being in the later stages of his career.
Zidane believes the Argentine deserves serious consideration.
The French legend said he would vote for Messi “100 times” if he had the opportunity and indicated that he would not be surprised if the Inter Miami forward won the award again.
Zidane also questioned whether any of the other nominees had made a greater impact than Messi during the period under consideration.
The comments are particularly notable because the Ballon d’Or shortlist includes several of the world’s biggest current stars, including Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal.
Messi therefore faces a new generation of elite players in the race for the award.
Messi has already won the Ballon d’Or eight times
Messi’s record in the Ballon d’Or is one of the strongest arguments supporters use when discussing his place in football history.
The Argentine has won the award eight times, more than any other player.
His most recent victory came in 2023 after his influential role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar.
That World Cup victory was particularly significant in Messi’s career because Argentina had previously fallen short despite his individual achievements.
Winning the tournament gave him the biggest international trophy in football and strengthened the argument from supporters who already regarded him as the greatest player of all time.
Zidane’s GOAT verdict is emphatic
Zidane did not simply praise Messi’s ability.
When asked about the wider debate over the greatest footballer in history, the former France international gave an emphatic response.
He said:
“If anyone still has doubts about the GOAT debate, honestly, that person does not belong in football society.”
The statement represents one of the strongest endorsements Messi has received from another legendary figure in the sport.
Zidane himself occupies an important place in football history. The Frenchman won the World Cup with France in 1998 and enjoyed a celebrated club career, including his time at Real Madrid.
His opinion therefore carries particular weight when discussing players who have reached the highest level of the game.
Read Also: LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM ARGENTINA
Messi continues to attract attention at 39
Age has become an increasingly important part of the discussion surrounding Messi.
At 39, the forward is no longer in the same stage of his career as when he was winning multiple Ballon d’Or awards during his Barcelona years.
Yet Zidane believes Messi’s continued ability to perform at the highest level is itself remarkable.
The Frenchman specifically highlighted the fact that Messi remains among the world’s best players at an age when most elite footballers have either retired or moved away from the highest level of competition.
That longevity has become another part of Messi’s legacy.
Rather than being remembered only for his peak years at Barcelona, his career has continued through spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, alongside his long international career with Argentina.
Messi’s international career approaching its end
The latest comments also come at a significant moment for Messi’s international career.
According to the report, Messi has announced his retirement from international football, a decision that could signal the beginning of the final stage of his professional career.
For Argentina supporters, the end of his international career would mark the conclusion of one of the most successful eras in the country’s football history.
Messi’s relationship with the national team changed considerably over the course of his career.
After suffering major disappointments in international finals earlier in his career, he eventually helped Argentina win major international honours, culminating in the 2022 World Cup.
That success significantly changed the conversation around his international legacy.
2026 Ballon d’Or race features a new generation
Messi’s presence on the 2026 shortlist also creates an interesting contrast between generations.
The Argentine is competing against established stars such as Mbappé, Haaland and Kane, while younger players such as Yamal represent the next generation of football superstars.
Yamal, in particular, has emerged as one of the most prominent young players in world football and is already being discussed alongside established names.
The presence of Messi alongside those younger stars illustrates the extraordinary length of his career at the highest level.
While many players from Messi’s generation have already retired, he remains part of the conversation for the sport’s biggest individual award.
The Messi-Ronaldo debate continues
For years, the greatest-player debate has largely centred on Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both players have collected extraordinary numbers of individual awards and trophies, while their careers have been closely compared since they emerged as the dominant forces in world football.
Messi’s supporters point to his record eight Ballon d’Or awards, his World Cup triumph, his playmaking ability and his achievements with Barcelona and Argentina.
Ronaldo’s supporters, meanwhile, highlight his goalscoring record, Champions League success, international achievements with Portugal and his ability to succeed in multiple leagues.
Zidane’s latest comments make his own position clear.
For the French legend, Messi’s combination of talent, achievements and longevity places him at the top of the sport.
What Zidane’s comments mean for the Ballon d’Or
Zidane’s endorsement does not determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
The award is decided through the established voting process, and Messi faces competition from the other players on the 30-man shortlist.
However, the comments add another significant voice to the public discussion surrounding the award.
Messi’s nomination itself is notable given his age.
If he were to win again, it would provide another extraordinary chapter in a career that has already produced a record eight Ballon d’Or victories.
For now, though, the nomination means he remains in contention.
And with Zidane publicly arguing that Messi is still among the best players in the world at 39, the debate surrounding the Argentine’s place in football history is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
