Di Maria: “Messi and Ronaldo are no longer the same”

Former Real Madrid and Argentina star Angel Di Maria has declared that the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the defining rivalry in football has ended.

He made the comment while discussing the likelihood of the two legends winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or after the FIFA World Cup.

Both players are preparing for their sixth World Cup appearance, which will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Argentina and Portugal are among the teams expected to contend for the trophy.

Only one of those teams will advance beyond the quarter‑finals, with the draw placing them against each other in the last eight if they win all their preceding matches.

Although Messi and Ronaldo are not currently favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, the award could still be decided on their performances in the World Cup.

The two have jointly earned the award 13 times, with Messi holding the record for the most wins at eight. Messi’s most recent Ballon d’Or came in 2023, following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.

Di Maria, who helped Argentina lift the World Cup in 2022 and once played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, believes a similar outcome is still possible in 2026.

He said he would not rule out either former teammate winning the Ballon d’Or if they win the World Cup or deliver standout performances.

The former Real Madrid winger stated that the Messi vs. Cristiano rivalry is over and that neither player will have the same level of influence in the race for the award, but that either could still have a strong chance if they shine at the World Cup.

In an interview with the official Ballon d’Or website, Di Maria said, “Well… it’s normal… At the end of the day, there isn’t a Messi or a Cristiano anymore; that’s over. For me, there won’t be a rivalry as great as that one. That’s why I think that if either of them wins the World Cup or plays a starring role, they’ve got a good chance…”

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held outside France for the first time in 2026, with London hosting the event on October 26.