Two weeks have passed since Lionel Andrés Messi made space in his trophy case for yet another Golden Boot, earned thanks to his 29 goals this season. Now, he could be nominated in several categories of the IFFHS Awards, joining 14 other figures who embody the beauty of football.
Messi is perfectly positioned to contend for up to four awards, and it will once again be the votes from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics that could deliver another honor to the Argentine star.
He has already swept multiple IFFHS distinctions in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022. This time, he could follow in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham, last year’s winner of the IFFHS Award.
Best Player in the World, Best Playmaker in the World, and Best Goalscorer in the World are three categories where the number ten remains a top contender. The playmaker award, in particular, seems almost guaranteed—one of his defining traits for both club and country has always been his vision and creativity on the ball.
Should the captain of Inter Miami claim the prize, the club will have yet another reason to celebrate early in the year, as the announcement is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
According to Sofascore, Messi’s three standout qualities are playmaking, finishing, and consistency. In short, nothing seems to stand in his way—though he faces stiff competition from fellow football magicians like Pedri González, Lamine Yamal, Cole Palmer, and Kevin De Bruyne.
The international jury, composed of IFFHS members including sports journalists and football experts from 120 countries, will cast their votes. All eyes will be on the Argentine once again, as analysts worldwide assess the effortless grace and natural flow that define his game.
Messi doesn’t have an easy path, but the jury’s job might be even harder. He’ll be competing against American Malik Tillman, European champion Vitinha, and Bruno Fernandes. Yet if there’s one constant in Messi’s career, it’s his ability to make the impossible look simple—and to dominate without ever looking back.