Messi Chooses World Cup Over Ballon d’Or, Plans Club Ownership After Retirement

Argentine forward Lionel Messi recently opened up about his career priorities and life after football.

In a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Messi was asked whether he would prefer winning another World Cup or another Ballon d’Or. The superstar was clear in his response: “World Cup or another Ballon d’Or? Another World Cup.” His comments underline a continued passion for international success, following Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup, showing that team glory still outweighs personal accolades for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

When asked about his post-retirement plans, Messi expressed a preference for becoming a club owner rather than a manager.

On the possibility of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Messi said he remains excited about the idea but would only participate if he feels physically capable of contributing to the Argentina national team.