Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, who days ago announced his retirement from the national team, could end a heartbreaking year on a high note after being nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

France Football, the sports magazine that awards world football’s most prestigious individual honor, announced Tuesday the list of 30 players nominated for the award, with the 39-year-old among the candidates.

It’s Messi’s 17th nomination, one of the few categories in which he doesn’t hold the record, as he trails his historic rival, Portugal’s Cristiano........

© Buenos Aires Herald