Former Real Madrid and Argentina winger Ángel Di María has said the long-running rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has officially come to an end, while noting that both legends could still influence the 2026 Ballon d’Or race if they deliver standout performances at the World Cup.
Speaking in an interview with the official Ballon d’Or website, Di María—who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup alongside Lionel Messi and previously played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid—said football is unlikely to witness another rivalry of such magnitude.
He acknowledged that neither player currently ranks among the top contenders for individual honours but stressed that exceptional performances at the 2026 World Cup could still reshape the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Both Messi and Ronaldo are expected to feature in what would be their sixth World Cup appearances when the tournament takes place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Their national teams, Argentina and Portugal, are viewed as strong contenders, with a potential knockout-stage clash looming that could see only one advance if both sides progress to the later rounds.
Between them, the two football icons have dominated the Ballon d’Or for over a decade, sharing 13 awards—Messi leading with eight wins, most recently in 2023 following Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory.
In a notable development, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held outside France for the first time, with London scheduled to host the event on October 26.