Messi skips Ballon d'Or ceremony to open his youth tournament in the US

goal.com —

Lionel Messi skipped the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday, choosing instead to attend the opening of his youth tournament, the Messi Cup, in the United States. The Inter Miami captain was in the U.S. for the second edition of the under-16 tournament, which features 16 teams including Barcelona and Chelsea. He had recently returned from Spain, where he received the Princess of Asturias Award, and faces a league match on Wednesday. Messi is among the 30 nominees for the award, which he has won a record eight times. Reports indicated he did not receive an invitation to present any award, and organizers never confirmed his attendance.


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