Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or attendance depends on Inter Miami match

Lionel Messi’s participation in Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London remains uncertain, with the Argentina captain expected to make a final decision after Inter Miami’s match against New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Messi is among the nominees for the award and holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins, having claimed the prize eight times. Organisers are awaiting confirmation over whether the 37-year-old will attend the ceremony at the London Palladium.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Messi will not decide whether to travel to the British capital until after Inter Miami’s MLS fixture in the United States. His decision is being complicated by a busy schedule involving commitments and long-distance travel across the coming days.

Messi is due to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday at a ceremony held at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, Spain. After the event, he will travel to the United States to rejoin Inter Miami ahead of their meeting with New York Red Bulls the following day.

The match is expected to determine his next steps. Once it has finished, Messi will decide whether to make another transatlantic journey to London for the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday.

The tight turnaround between Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom has left his attendance in doubt. No final decision is expected before Inter Miami’s game against New York Red Bulls.