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Rodrigo De Paul has thrown his support behind Lionel Messi in the 2026 Ballon dβOr debate, claiming the Argentine captainβs exploits in the World Cup as a 39-year-old are simply unassailable.
The Ballon dβOr debate has entered a fresh phase in the wake of the FIFA World Cup, and De Paul has weighed in, saying that there should be no argument when Messiβs achievements are taken into account.
Β« βFor me, thereβs no debate possible. In a year when there is a World Cup, nobody has ever done and nobody will ever do what Messi did, and he was 39 years old.β Β»
De Paul has added that Messiβs exploits in the competition, particularly his performances against a new wave of elite talents, are testament to his record-breaking quality.
Β« βHe pushed every limit, competed against exceptional players at different ages, and he was the best player at the World Cup. No debate.β Β»
The comments follow Messi delivering another stellar World Cup campaign in 2026. According to reports on De Paulβs statements, the 39-year-old Argentine netted eight goals and delivered four assists in eight matches.
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It is Messiβs age that makes his achievements in the competition doubly impressive, for he was entering the World Cup at 39, and would frequently be going up against younger foes as Argentinaβs captain and spearhead.
De Paulβs argument is that the Argentine is even more impressive for his ability to continue to deliver, particularly at international level, after nearly three decades as one of the gameβs superstars.
Messiβs exploits in the 2026 tournament have added yet another chapter to an incredible World Cup career. FIFA records that he emerged as Argentinaβs linchpin during their 2022 success in Qatar, scoring seven goals, registering three assists and picking up the Golden Ball award.
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Messiβs exploits in the competition have formed one of the great sporting sagas of his career.
He got to the 2014 final, where Argentina were beaten by Germany, before finally lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022. Messi scored in every round of the competition, and netted twice for Argentina during the famous World Cup final win over France β a match which FIFA has since declared the greatest in the tournamentβs history, and for which Messi was also awarded the Golden Ball.
Messiβs exploits in the 2026 competition therefore have a special place in his World Cup legend β rather than simply getting involved in another international competition, the 39-year-old Argentine has once again been delivering vital goals and drawing a massive global audience.
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Ultimately, the Ballon dβOr is a matter of opinion, according to the official voting system. De Paulβs comments therefore represent his own view, rather than that of the final decision.
However, he has highlighted one of the key issues in the 2026 Ballon dβOr debate β how much a playerβs exploits in the World Cup should be factored in to their Ballon dβOr year.
Messiβs supporters can point to the sheer scale of his achievements in 2026, including his age and continued quality, whereas his rivals can point to their individual contributions, stats, trophies and overall form.
Messi is also not in contention for the competitionβs World Cup equivalent, the FIFA Golden Ball, which is a separate award reserved for the World Cup winner.
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Regardless of the final Ballon dβOr verdict, Messiβs exploits in the 2026 World Cup have added to his incredible list of achievements.
From winning his first World Cup in 2022 to returning four years later and once again contributing to a trophy win as a 39-year-old β a feat which few anticipated β Messi has continued to defy the odds.
De Paulβs comments therefore make it clear that he believes Messi deserves to be considered in a class of his own β not least for his age and continued contribution, as well as his exploits in the World Cup.
It will be up to the final voting procedure to decide Messiβs ultimate ranking in the 2026 Ballon dβOr debate, but the subject has once again ignited one of the sportβs most fascinating topics of conversation.
And as De Paul put it: βNo debate.β
