Lionel Messi was a Ballon d’Or nominee for the 17th time in 2026, but the trophy’s all-time record recipient has not graced this year’s ceremony in London with his presence.

The eight-time winner, first nominated all the way back in 2006 after a maiden European crown with Barcelona, was named on the 2026 shortlist for the first time in three years. He last featured—and won—in 2023 in the wake of leading Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup.

Since moving his club career to Major League Soccer, outside the elite environment of Europe’s top five league and the UEFA Champions League, Messi’s recent nominations have been determined by his achievements with Argentina —that was also the case when he won in 2021, lifting the Copa América that year as his first senior international trophy.

This year, Messi scored eight goals at the World Cup and played in another final.…