Lionel Messi Stuns Ballon d'Or Voters With a Pick Nobody Else Made

Lionel Messi was the only member of the Kopa Trophy jury to vote for Ibrahim Maza, one of Bayer Leverkusen's rising stars.

Messi Was the Only Voter to Pick Ibrahim Maza

Lionel Messi delivered one of the biggest surprises in the 2026 Ballon d'Or voting. After France Football published the selections made by former winners for the Kopa Trophy, it emerged that the Argentine was the only jury member to include Ibrahim Maza, the young Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, among his three favorites.

The Argentina captain placed Lamine Yamal first, Pau Cubarsí second and Maza third. It was an unusual choice, as no other voter included the Algerian international among the year's top three young players.

Messi's support earned Maza one point and ninth place in the final standings for the award recognizing the best player under 21. Lamine Yamal ultimately claimed the trophy, narrowly finishing ahead of his Barcelona teammate.

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Who Is Ibrahim Maza?

The 20-year-old midfielder was born in Berlin, represents Algeria internationally and has played for Bayer Leverkusen since the summer of 2025, when he joined from Hertha Berlin.

Maza is still establishing himself among Europe's most promising young players, but his development in the Bundesliga has attracted attention. An attacking midfielder with strong dribbling skills and the ability to create opportunities, he has become an increasingly important player for Leverkusen.

This season, he has registered three goals and three assists in 11 appearances across all competitions. He has also earned regular playing time under Carles Martínez, who has shown confidence in the youngster during the opening months of the campaign.

His contract runs until 2030, highlighting Leverkusen's commitment to his long-term development.

The World Cup Meeting That May Have Caught Messi's Eye

Messi and Maza had already crossed paths during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when Argentina faced Algeria in their Group J opener.

Argentina won 3-0, with Messi scoring all three goals. Maza played 82 minutes and was involved in a move that ended with a disallowed goal from Farès Chaïbi.

Although Algeria lost that match, the midfielder displayed some of the qualities that have made him one of his country's brightest prospects. The North African side later advanced to the round of 32 before being eliminated by Switzerland.

Messi has not publicly explained why he selected Maza, so there is no confirmation that their World Cup encounter influenced his decision. However, the Argentine had an opportunity to see the young midfielder in action before including him on his Kopa Trophy ballot.

Barcelona's Young Stars Dominated the Voting

The Kopa Trophy has a distinctive voting system. Only former Ballon d'Or winners are eligible to serve on its jury, with each voter selecting three players and awarding five, three and one point, respectively.

This year's voting was dominated by players from Barcelona. Lamine Yamal won with 96 points, narrowly edging out Pau Cubarsí, who finished second with 94. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery placed third with 20 points.

Messi's selection stood out because Maza received no votes from any other member of the jury. His single point was enough to finish ninth, ahead of Johan Manzambi.

For the Bayer Leverkusen youngster, earning recognition from an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is a remarkable achievement, even if he remains at an early stage of his career.

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Key Facts About Messi's Surprise Vote

The only vote: Lionel Messi was the sole jury member to include Ibrahim Maza among his top three Kopa Trophy candidates.
Messi's ballot: Lamine Yamal received five points, Pau Cubarsí three and Ibrahim Maza one.
Final standings: Maza finished ninth, while Lamine Yamal won the 2026 Kopa Trophy with 96 points.