Messi Identifies Future Ballon d’Or Contenders, But a Surprise Candidate Looms

Lionel Messi, fresh off winning his record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or trophy, is already looking ahead to future contenders for the prestigious award. In his opinion, young talents such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior have the potential to compete for the Ballon d’Or in the coming years.

While Vinicius Junior secured a respectable 6th place in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, he could be a strong podium contender if he manages to surpass his impressive 2022-23 season statistics of 23 goals and 21 assists.

However, a surprise candidate for future Ballon d’Or honors could be Jude Bellingham, a player not mentioned by Messi. The Englishman’s prospects would significantly strengthen if Real Madrid secures a Champions League victory and England triumphs in the Euro 2024.

Bellingham’s potential success in future Ballon d’Or races depends on his continued outstanding performances, and his chances would be particularly enhanced by achieving major accomplishments with his club and national team.