Cristian Romero insists Messi ‘is still the best in the world’ and deserves Ballon d’Or

Cristian Romero has said Lionel Messi remains the best in the world and believes he should win the Ballon d’Or ‘until he retires’

Messi is an outside chance to win the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending ninth time in 2026, following a record-breaking period in MLS and impressive individual World Cup withArgentina.

Messi scored eight goals at the 2026World Cup to lead Argentina to a second straight final, with La Albiceleste losing to Spain in extra time.

At club level with Inter Miami, 39-year-old is the leading goalscorer (20) and assist provider (13) in MLS this season, while he recently became the fastest footballer in the league’s history to reach 100 goals for their club in all competitions.

Discussing the Ballon d’Or, Argentina teammate Romero said Messi is the obvious winner at next month’s ceremony in London.

‘He’s still the best in the world’: Romero says Ballon d’Or ‘should go to Leo Messi’ as Inter Miami star breaks records

“The Ballon d’Or should go to Leo Messi. Until he retires, that is clear,” the Atletico Madrid defender toldESPN.

“Putting aside what he is as a player and what he has achieved throughout his career, he is still the best in the world. What makes him even greater is that I have shared a dressing room with him, and he possesses a humility that very few have. Those things make him stand out.

“Messi helped me adapt [to international football]. When I first joined, we weren’t winning everything, and he helped us. He has been my idol since I was a little boy; I saw him suffer, and then go on to win everything. Having shared so much with him, he is the greatest of all time. It is going to be a beautiful farewell for him.

“There is nobody else like Messi. I keep saying it.

“Surely, once Messi decides to call time on his career, we’ll have to see who they give the Ballon d’Or to. To whichever player has the most marketing power, because that is pretty much what it comes down to.”