Messi named the contenders for the Ballon d'Or. Bellingham wasn't on the list

The legendary Argentine player Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or awards, having graced the stage eight times to claim football's most prestigious trophy.

During an interview with L'Equipe, Messi identified the main contenders for this award. In his opinion, they include Erling Haaland from Manchester City, the PSG superstar, and likely future Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. He also singled out the young Barcelona starlet, Lamine Yamal.

"Players who will vie for the Ballon d'Or? In the coming years, there may be competition between players like Haaland, Mbappe, Vinicius, and many other young players who will vie for the Ballon d'Or.

I also believe that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young and currently plays for Barcelona, will play a significant role and compete for the award in the future.

Of course, other players will compete for the Ballon d'Or as well, and new players will emerge, whom we do not yet know about because there are always new players, and I think it will be a very exciting era to enjoy."

It is worth noting that Messi did not mention Jude Bellingham, who is considered a rising star at Real Madrid. It is this Englishman who is considered one of the favorites, according to bookmakers.