{
  "id": 7993101,
  "title": "Messi deserves to be considered for Ballon d’Or – Beckham",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/messi-deserves-to-be-considered-for-ballon-dor-beckham",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T09:16:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/messi-deserves-to-be-considered-for-ballon-dor-beckham/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham has expressed his belief that Lionel Messi should be considered for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. This came just hours after Messi reached a significant milestone of scoring his 100th goal for the Major League Soccer club. The Argentine striker scored in Inter Miami's 2-0 win over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup, which secured the team their first title. Beckham praised Messi's performance at the 2026 World Cup and his continued ability to maintain a high level at the age of 39, stating that no one at that age is performing at that level. This led Beckham to strongly suggest that Messi deserves a spot in the Ballon d’Or race, with the BBC reporting him saying, \"He deserves to be considered for the Ballon d'Or. In my opinion, he should win it.\" Messi is one of 30 players nominated for this year's Ballon d’Or, joining an elite group of players who have won the prestigious individual award multiple times. The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in London on October 26.",
  "summary": "Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham says Lionel Messi deserves to be considered for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after the Argentine reached 100 goals for the club. Read More: https://punchng.com/messi-deserves-to-be-considered-for-ballon-dor-beckham/",
  "key_points": [
    "David Beckham believes Messi should be considered for 2026 Ballon d’Or.",
    "Messi scored 100th goal for Inter Miami in recent win.",
    "Beckham praises Messi’s performance at 2026 World Cup."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Messi deserves to be considered for Ballon d’Or – Beckham",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/messi-deserves-to-be-considered-for-ballon-dor-beckham-7994652",
        "published": "2026-09-17T09:28:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}