When Lionel Messi walks onto the pitch for Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final, he won’t just be fighting to retain Argentina’s world title—he’ll also be chasing a place in football history that only one player has ever occupied.
Victory over Spain at MetLife Stadium would see the Argentine legend equal a remarkable achievement currently held solely by Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazário, becoming just the second player ever to combine multiple FIFA World Cup titles with multiple Ballon d’Or awards.
One Win Away From Joining An Exclusive Club
Messi already owns virtually every major individual honour in football, including a record eight Ballon d’Or trophies.
However, when it comes to World Cup success, the Inter Miami superstar has lifted the famous trophy only once—leading Argentina to glory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
A victory on Sunday would hand the 39-year-old a second World Cup winners’ medal, placing him alongside Ronaldo in one of football’s most exclusive clubs.
The Brazilian legend remains the only player in history to have won at least two FIFA World Cups and two Ballon d’Or awards.
Ronaldo collected World Cup titles with Brazil in 1994 and 2002, while also claiming football’s highest individual honour in 1997 and 2002.
Another Chapter In Messi’s Legendary Career
For Messi, Sunday’s final presents another opportunity to enhance a career already regarded as one of the greatest in sporting history.
Having finally ended Argentina’s long wait for World Cup success in Qatar four years ago, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now has the chance to guide La Albiceleste to back-to-back world titles—a feat achieved by only a handful of national teams.
Beyond defending Argentina’s crown, another World Cup triumph would further strengthen Messi’s standing in the never-ending debate over football’s greatest player.
A Record That Eluded Football Icons
The combination of multiple World Cup triumphs and multiple Ballon d’Or awards has remained one of football’s rarest accomplishments.
Several legendary names came close but ultimately fell short.
German greats Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthäus both enjoyed glittering international careers, yet neither managed to win the World Cup twice as players. Beckenbauer lifted the trophy in 1974 before later coaching West Germany to World Cup success in 1990.
Brazilian legends Pelé and Garrincha also captured multiple World Cup titles, but neither had the opportunity to compete for the Ballon d’Or during their careers because the award was restricted to European players until 1995.
That rule change transformed the award into a truly global honour, allowing stars from every continent to compete for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
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It paved the way for Ronaldo’s historic achievement—and now gives Messi the opportunity to write his own chapter in football history.
History Beckons In New Jersey
As Argentina prepare to face an ambitious Spanish side in Sunday’s final, the stakes extend far beyond lifting the famous golden trophy.
For Messi, one more victory would not only deliver consecutive World Cup titles for Argentina—it could also see him stand shoulder to shoulder with Ronaldo Nazário in a record that has remained untouched for decades.
With history, legacy and immortality all on the line, the World Cup final promises to be far more than just another football match.