Home / Sports / Benatia Slams Ballon d'Or Rankings: Messi, Rodri Snubbed?
Benatia Slams Ballon d'Or Rankings: Messi, Rodri Snubbed?
28 Oct
Summary
- Benatia questions Lionel Messi's fifth-place Ballon d'Or finish.
- He argues Rodri's fourth-place ranking is undeserved due to limited playing time.
- Harry Kane was awarded the Ballon d'Or, ahead of Mbappé and Yamal.
Mehdi Benatia, the former captain of Morocco, has publicly challenged the 2026 Ballon d'Or results, focusing his criticism on Lionel Messi and Rodri. Benatia expressed disbelief at Messi's fifth-place finish, questioning how a player spending most of the year in Miami could rank so high.
He argued that Messi's overall performance, despite his World Cup contribution, did not warrant such a position. Benatia also took issue with Rodri securing fourth place, pointing out that the midfielder's season was significantly hampered by a four-month absence due to injury.
The final rankings saw England's Harry Kane claim the award for the first time, with Kylian Mbappé in second and Lamine Yamal securing third place.
