French football icon Zinedine Zidane has declared Lionel Messi the greatest footballer in history, saying those who continue to question the Argentine’s status in the GOAT debate do not fully understand the game.
Zidane’s comments came as Messi, 39, was included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, with the former Real Madrid manager backing the Inter Miami forward to claim another individual honour despite his advancing age.
Speaking on Messi’s continued performances at the highest level, Zidane said maintaining elite standards at 39 was an extraordinary achievement that separated the Argentine from other players.
“I think people really don’t understand how incredible it is to still be among the best players in the world at 39 years old,” Zidane stated.
According to Marca, Zidane said he would vote for Messi “100 times” if given the opportunity, arguing that the Argentine’s influence and consistency remained unmatched.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times, more than any other player in football history. His most recent victory came in 2023 after playing a leading role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Frenchman maintained that Messi’s ability to continue producing decisive performances at the highest level made him a serious contender for the 2026 award.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Messi won the award,” Zidane said, while questioning whether other nominees had delivered a greater impact than the Argentine during the assessment period.
Messi recently announced his retirement from international football, a decision that has increased speculation about the final phase of his playing career.
Addressing the long-running debate over the greatest footballer of all time, Zidane was firm in his position.
“If anyone still has doubts about the GOAT debate, honestly, that person does not belong in football society,” he said.
Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and one of football’s most respected figures, has previously praised Messi’s technical ability, creativity and influence on the sport.
The debate over football’s greatest player has remained one of the sport’s most discussed topics, with Messi’s achievements, including multiple Ballon d’Or titles, a Copa América triumph and a World Cup victory, forming a central part of the argument in his favour.
