Several reports earlier this week placed Lionel Messi at the heart of the 2026 Ballon d’Or stage, suggesting the Inter Miami captain would hand the men’s trophy to the winner in London. Fabrizio Romano took that story apart within hours.

The Italian journalist posted on X that Messi has not received any such invitation, and that his presence at the gala has not been confirmed in any form.

“Lionel Messi will not be presenting a trophy to any of the winners at the Ballon d’Or, as he has not been invited to do so.”

Romano added that even Messi’s attendance at the London Palladium is still an open question, despite him being one of the 30 nominees on the men’s shortlist.

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The claim that Messi would appear and preside over a symbolic handover had bounced around football media earlier in the week. It had an obvious pull on the 70th edition of the award: no footballer has won the Ballon d’Or more times than the Argentine, and the gala was leaving Paris for the first time in the modern era.

The ceremony’s first London night

The 2026 ceremony takes place at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26. It is the first time the men’s prize is being presented outside Paris in the modern era, with the venue change coinciding with the award’s 70th edition, 70 years after Stanley Matthews was named the first winner in 1956.

Voting is already closed, and the 100 journalists who make up the panel have filed their ballots. Everything in the next 11 days is positioning.

Kane overtakes Yamal in the market

The ceremony is approaching with a reshaped market. At the start of October, Lamine Yamal was the 1/2 favourite with Harry Kane the 6/4 challenger. As of this week, Kane is in at 1/2 and Yamal out to 2/1. The two have swapped places.

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Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich in 2025-26, helping the club win the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. Yamal’s case rests on his part in Barcelona’s domestic treble and his run in Spain’s World Cup campaign.

Behind them, Kylian Mbappé and Messi are both at 22/1, with Rodri and Michael Olise at 40/1.

Messi’s role still a question mark

Romano’s clarification does not say whether Messi will travel to London. He is still on the men’s 30-player shortlist, and no further word on his attendance has come with the ceremony 11 days away on October 26.

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