{
  "id": 17375130,
  "title": "UAE Voted for Lionel Messi as 2026 Ballon d’Or Winner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/uae-voted-for-lionel-messi-as-2026-ballon-dor-winner",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T09:12:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/uae-voted-for-lionel-messi-as-2026-ballon-dor-winner-1.500730663"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Arab Emirates was among six countries that voted Lionel Messi as their top choice for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Despite finishing fifth in the overall standings, Messi received first-place votes from UAE, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, China and Panama journalists, earning him a total of 612 points. This decision came despite Messi's performances during the 2025-26 MLS season and at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he scored 29 goals and provided 15 assists in 34 appearances for Inter Miami. He also had a strong run with Argentina, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in the World Cup. However, Messi was surpassed by Harry Kane, who won the award with 1,055 points, followed by Kylian Mbappe with 1,027 points, Lamine Yamal with 881 points, and Rodri with 726 points. Kane's victory marked an end to Messi's quest to add to his record eight Ballon d'Or titles, which he last won in 2023 following his World Cup victory in Qatar. Despite not winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Messi's vote in the UAE demonstrated the continued admiration for the Argentine star.",
  "summary": "The UAE was among six countries whose representatives voted Lionel Messi as their number one choice for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite the Argentina captain finishing fifth in the overall standings. The voting breakdown, released by France Football, showed that journalists from the UAE, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, China and Panama placed the Inter Miami forward at the top of their ballots. Each…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Transfer: 'Lionel Messi was offered to Real Madrid' - Portugal reveals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/transfer-lionel-messi-was-offered-to-real-madrid-portugal-reveals",
        "published": "2026-10-31T05:31:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}