{
  "id": 16703461,
  "title": "Why did Lionel Messi skip Ballon d'Or ceremony despite finishing fifth at 39",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/why-did-lionel-messi-skip-ballon-dor-ceremony-despite-finishing-fifth",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T03:48:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/football/why-did-lionel-messi-skip-ballon-dor-ceremony-despite-finishing-fifth-at-39-1.500724895"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "With 39 years on his sleeve, Lionel Messi continues defying expectations by finishing fifth in the 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings. This remarkable feat, placing him ahead of football stars such as Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, highlights his enduring prowess. Despite his stellar World Cup performance leading Argentina to the final, Messi opted not to attend the prestigious London ceremony. Instead, he was seen cheering on youth football in Miami, specifically at the Messi Cup and his son Mateo's Legends Cup match. His absence from the ceremony remains unexplained, though Messi remained in Miami, balancing commitments with Inter Miami and attending other youth tournaments. Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or win, achieved in 2023, remains unrivaled, as he continues to shine alongside football's elite despite his age. While other players like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal secured podium spots, Messi's focus remains on nurturing young talent from the sidelines.",
  "summary": "Lionel Messi may be 39, but the little magician continues to prove that age is just a number. The eight time Ballon d'Or winner finished fifth in the 2026 rankings, ahead of several of football's biggest names, including Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. For a player approaching 40, finishing among the world's top five is an extraordinary achievement. And remember, Messi…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "published": "2026-10-26T10:46:40.000Z"
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        "published": "2026-10-26T12:23:44.000Z"
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/2026-ballon-dor-real-madrid-dressing-room-identifies-player-to-win",
        "published": "2026-10-26T15:57:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Kane ends England's 25-year Ballon d'Or wait - how he bucked the trend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/kane-ends-englands-25-year-ballon-dor-wait-how-he-bucked-the-trend",
        "published": "2026-10-26T23:10:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Kane ends England's 25-year Ballon d'Or wait - how he bucked the trend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/kane-ends-englands-25-year-ballon-dor-wait-how-he-bucked-the-trend-16677296",
        "published": "2026-10-26T23:34:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RFI English",
        "title": "Putellas and Kane win 2026 Ballon d'Or as PSG retain men's team of year prize",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/putellas-and-kane-win-2026-ballon-dor-as-psg-retain-mens-team-of-year",
        "published": "2026-10-27T00:27:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Kane ends England’s 25-year Ballon d’Or wait – how he bucked the trend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/kane-ends-englands-25-year-ballon-dor-wait-how-he-bucked-the-trend",
        "published": "2026-10-27T04:04:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}