Ballon d'Or site questions if trophy can be won without World Cup, cites Messi

The official Ballon d'Or website posted an article titled “Can you win the Ballon d'Or without winning the World Cup?” that featured a photo of Lionel Messi. The piece recalled that many past winners also lifted the World Cup but stressed that the award is based on being the best player of the season, not solely on World Cup performance. Spanish media reacted with concern, noting the article could affect expectations for a Spanish contender ahead of the ceremony scheduled for 26 October in London.

The article highlighted the award’s criteria and cited historical examples, reinforcing that winning the World Cup is not a prerequisite for receiving the Ballon d'Or.