Beckham's endorsement is significant, as he believes Messi deserves to win the award. "There's no one of 39 years old who can do what he does on this level," Beckham said. "He must certainly be considered for the Ballon d'Or. In my opinion, he should win it." Messi's impressive performance at the World Cup, where he scored eight goals for Argentina, has further strengthened Beckham's case.
The Ballon d'Or award ceremony is scheduled to take place on 26 October in London, where the 30 nominees will be narrowed down to a single winner. Currently, Harry Kane is the favourite to win, according to British bookmakers, with Messi and other top players like Kylian Mbappé and Rodri as close contenders.