Zlatan Ibrahimović believes Lionel Messi should have won the Golden Ball at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite Spain midfielder Rodri being named the tournament’s best player.
Reacting to the award, Softfootball gathered that the former Sweden striker questioned the criteria used to determine the winner, arguing that Messi’s performances throughout the competition warranted football’s top individual honour.
Zlatan said:
What else did Messi have to do to win it? I genuinely don’t understand the criteria anymore. If you look back at 2018, Luka Modrić won the Golden Ball without winning the World Cup.
So what changed now? Messi carried Argentina throughout the tournament, delivered when it mattered most, and was once again the player everyone feared. If that wasn’t enough, then tell me what is. It feels like the standards are always different when it comes to Messi.
Every other player gets judged one way, but with him, people suddenly move the goalposts. It’s always against Messi. I’m happy for Rodri, but from a football perspective, I don’t think anyone had a stronger case than Messi.
Spain completed a memorable World Cup campaign by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to lift their second world title. Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball after leading La Roja through an unbeaten tournament, while Messi inspired Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final before finishing as runners-up.
