# Lionel Messi career milestones and Ballon d'Or nomination > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/lionel-messi-career-milestones-and-accolades > Updated: 2026-09-09T15:31:12.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2. Lionel Messi has achieved several significant milestones in professional soccer following his retirement from the Argentina national team after the 2026 World Cup. In Major League Soccer, Messi set a league record as the first player to record at least 30 goal contributions in three different seasons. During a draw against Atlanta United, he reached season totals of 18 goals and 12 assists. Subsequently, Messi reached a historic career milestone of 1,350 total goal contributions. His performance during the season, which included 45 goals and 30 assists, also resulted in his return to the Ballon d'Or contender list for the first time in two years. France Football and UEFA have officially announced the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. At age 39, Messi has returned to the shortlist following a strong season with Inter Miami and a run to the World Cup final with Argentina. While his inclusion has drawn criticism from analysts such as Ally McCoist, who argue for a focus on “current performance over legacy,” he remains a notable candidate alongside other contenders like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Ballon d'Or 2026: Nominees announced with Kane and Messi featured France Football has unveiled the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with Harry Kane leading the favorites alongside Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, while Lionel Messi makes a notable return to the list. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentine-players-nominated-for-ballon-dor-and-lev-yashin-trophy ### 2026-09-07: Lionel Messi sets MLS record for goal contributions Lionel Messi has become the first player in MLS history to achieve at least 30 goal contributions in three separate seasons, following his recent retirement from the Argentina national team. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-sets-mls-record-for-goal-contributions --- Cite as: Lionel Messi career milestones and Ballon d'Or nomination. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/lionel-messi-career-milestones-and-accolades