Who will win the Super Ballon d'Or?

Lionel Messi: The Favourite for the 2029 Super Ballon d’Or?

Whispers are growing louder around the football world: the Super Ballon d’Or might make a return in 2029. While not an official FIFA or France Football award at this stage, the idea of a special prize honouring the greatest career achievements in football has captured imaginations—and if it does come to pass, one name stands head and shoulders above the rest: Lionel Messi.

With seven Ballons d’Or already in his cabinet—won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021—Messi has long since transcended competition. His career numbers are staggering: 793 goals in 1,003 appearances across club and country, a tally that continues to grow even in the twilight of his time on the pitch.

What sets Messi apart isn’t just the silverware or statistics—it’s the longevity, the grace, the quiet dominance that never needed shouting. While other greats have risen and retired, Messi has remained, adapting, evolving, and still delivering moments of magic well into his late 30s.

Rumours of a 2029 Super Ballon d’Or—perhaps to mark a significant anniversary in football history—have only amplified the sense that Messi’s name is already etched into that trophy, even before it’s been designed. Of course, football thrives on surprises, and future stars will surely emerge. But as things stand, if such an award were given purely for career legacy, influence, and sustained brilliance, the choice feels almost inevitable.

Will we see Messi lift another historic prize a decade from now? The script seems to be writing itself. And if football is a story, few could argue that Lionel Messi deserves the final, golden chapter.