Benatia questions Messi’s fifth-place finish in 2026 Ballon d’Or

Former Morocco captain Medhi Benatia has criticised the final 2026 Ballon d’Or standings, questioning why Lionel Messi finished fifth and Rodri fourth.

Harry Kane won the award for the first time in his career after finishing ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, who was second, and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who came third.

Benatia, the former Juventus and Bayern Munich defender, said Messi and Rodri did not deserve their respective positions. Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, was placed fifth, while Barcelona midfielder Rodri finished fourth.

“Spending the whole year in Miami and then finishing fifth in the season?” Benatia said, according to Foot Mercato. “Have European football fans seen Messi more than Olise?”

The former Morocco international acknowledged Messi’s performance at the World Cup, but argued that it should not automatically have secured him a place so high in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

“It is true that he was incredible at the World Cup, and the whole team plays for him,” Benatia said. “All respect to him, because he is around our age. But how can you tell me that Messi is fifth?”

Benatia also questioned Rodri’s inclusion in the top four, pointing to the limited amount of football he played during the season.

“How can he be fourth when he played only four months throughout the season?” he said.