Messi makes his record 17th Ballon d’Or 2026 nomination among the top 10 men, but why did he miss the ceremony?

Lionel Messi will not be present at the Ballon d’Or in 2026, despite being alone among the 30 nominees. Football’s biggest names have arrived at the London Palladium for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, but one familiar face will be conspicuously absent from the occasion. Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal took their seats after red carpet arrivals, while Lionel Messi, nominated for the award for the 17th time in his career, was nowhere to be found. His absence raised the obvious question, especially after reports suggested he might play a special role in the ceremony.

Messi will miss the ceremony as the final countdown begins

The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony was due to start earlier on Monday, October 26, but heavy London traffic pushed back the main event at the Palladium by 30 minutes. The red carpet arrivals have since ended, with Mbappé attracting attention in a bespoke suede tuxedo, while Kane and teenage sensation Yamal also arrived ahead of the announcement.Other prominent participants include Alexia Putellas, Ousmane Dembélé and former soccer great Andriy Shevchenko, but Messi will not be joining them in London. The Argentine remains among the 30 nominees and secured a place in the top 10 of this year’s ranking, so his absence is particularly noticeable during the ceremony.Messi has won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times, most recently in 2023, and has been named among the top 10 finalists for the award in 2026 after another impressive campaign with Inter Miami and Argentina. But his decision to stay in the United States appears to reflect his demanding schedule rather than any disinterest in soccer’s most prestigious individual honor.

The demanding schedule leaves little room for the next flight

Messi only recently returned to the United States after traveling to Oviedo, Spain, to receive the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. Another transatlantic trip to London would mean more travel with little time to recover, especially as Inter Miami approaches an important stage of their MLS campaign.

Lionel Messi becomes the first footballer to single-handedly win Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Award, honoring sporting excellence and philanthropy / Image: Instagram

Inter Miami faced the New York Red Bulls on October 24th and are set to face FC Cincinnati on October 28th, so Messi and the coaching staff are focused on preparation, rest and recovery. The upcoming game takes on added importance as the club work towards a place in the MLS playoffs, with Messi still central to their hopes of a strong finish to the season.He also has duties outside of the senior team, with the second edition of the Messi Cup taking place in South Florida from October 25 to November 1. The international under-16 tournament is held at the Inter Miami Stadium and Messi is involved in its organization, giving him an additional commitment during the same week as the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The reported role of moderator never materialized

Speculation about Messi’s possible attendance intensified after reports attributed to independent journalist Juan Jesus suggested he would attend the ceremony with his family and personally present the trophy to this year’s winner. The idea quickly gained traction as Messi himself remains nominated, creating an entertaining possibility should he win his ninth Ballon d’Or.However, neither Messi’s participation, the reported presence of his family nor the proposed hosting role have been officially confirmed by France Football or UEFA. Subsequent reports also suggested that Messi had not received an invitation to present the trophy, with transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano among those who said he would not be performing the role.The suggestion that Messi could present the award to Yamal has also fueled talk of a symbolic passing of the torch, particularly as the two share a remarkable connection through a 2007 photo taken for a charity calendar. In the picture, 20-year-old Messi poses with five-month-old Yamal, long before the youngster emerged as one of football’s leading prospects.The story would have made for an unforgettable ceremony, but the presenter’s rumors were never confirmed as fact and Messi’s absence means the expected moment will not take place as reported.

The 17th nomination adds another chapter to Messi’s record

Messi’s absence does not diminish the significance of his return to the shortlist after missing out on nominations in the previous two editions. His 2026 campaign included helping Argentina reach the World Cup finals, scoring eight goals during the tournament, while continuing to produce for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.The nomination took his total to 17, two decades since he was first included in 2006, and remains second only to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has received 18 nominations. Messi remains the only player to win the award while representing a club outside of Europe, and his four consecutive victories between 2009 and 2012 remain unsurpassed.Whether he adds a ninth trophy or watches the result from home, Messi’s place among the most decorated players in the history of the award is already assured. But for now, the London ceremony will go ahead without him as the remaining contestants wait to find out who will take home the 2026 prize.