<p><strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a></strong> has been the best soccer player in the world for over 20 years. The countless titles he has won—combined with his unique style of play—have firmly cemented him at the pinnacle of world soccer. Now, t<strong>he Argentine captain could be in line for the <em>Super Ballon d’Or</em></strong>, a legendary award that has only been handed out once in history.</p>



<p>Messi has already secured his place among the all-time greats. His iconic career with Barcelona, <strong>his record eight <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ballon-dor/">Ballon d’Or</a> trophies</strong>, the World Cup title with Argentina, and numerous other accolades make a strong case for him as the greatest of all time.</p>



<h2>What is the Super Ballon d’Or?</h2>



<p>The official Ballon d’Or account, which tracks the prestigious award Messi has won more than any other player, recently sparked speculation with a cryptic post referencing the rarest honor in soccer history. The post read:</p>



<p><em>“In 1989, a player received a trophy no one else had ever earned: the SUPER BALLON D’OR. It was awarded to the best soccer player of the past three decades: Alfredo Di Stéfano. <strong>If it were awarded again today… WHO WOULD DESERVE IT?</strong>”</em></p>



<p>The post instantly lit up social media, with fans and analysts alike pointing to Messi as the clear choice to receive this once-in-a-lifetime honor.</p>



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Ballon d’Or unlike any other.<br>In 1989, one player received a trophy no one else ever has: the Super Ballon d’Or.<br>But who was it?<br>And if it were awarded again today… Who would deserve it?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/superballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#superballondor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/footballhistory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#footballhistory</a> <a href="https://t.co/GGbieTEsLK">pic.twitter.com/GGbieTEsLK</a></p>— Ballon d&apos;Or (@ballondor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ballondor/status/1932824792593281099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote></div> 


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ballon-dor-nominations-date-confirmed-when-will-they-be-announced/" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.worldsoccertalk.com%2Fwebp%2Ffull%2FWST_20250612_WST_574366_Ballon-DOr.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="The winners will be honored at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on September 22. In addition to the Ballon d’Or for best male and female player, the ceremony will include awards for best goalkeeper (Yashin Trophy), best young player (Kopa Trophy), and top scorer (Gerd Müller Trophy).
" title="Ballon d’Or nominations date confirmed: When will they be announced?" publication_id="WST#/news/ballon-dor-nominations-date-confirmed-when-will-they-be-announced/"></div>


<p><strong>Only one player in history—Alfredo Di Stéfano—has ever received the Super Ballon d’Or.</strong> If it were to be awarded again, many believe that Messi’s unparalleled career achievements make him the obvious candidate. It would be the ultimate recognition for a player who has not only defined an era but has also consistently been the best in the world for two decades.</p>



<p>Could the Super Ballon d’Or make its return? And if so, is it finally time for Messi to receive the most exclusive trophy in soccer history?</p>


Lionel Messi could receive soccer's highest award: what is the Super Ballon d'Or?

Lionel Messi could receive soccer's highest award: what is the Super Ballon d'Or? - World Soccer Talk

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<p>France Minister of Interior Gerald Darmanin has claimed that Karim Benzema has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The group has been labeled by several nations as a terrorist organization. This includes Saudi Arabia, the country where Benzema currently plays club soccer for Al-Ittihad.</p>



<p>The French official made the claims during an interview on CNews Network. “Mister Karim Benzema has notorious ties, as we all know, with the Muslim Brotherhood,” <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/football/2023/10/17/652ef2fd22601d066c8b459e.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Darmanin.</p>



<p>Benzema recently took to Instagram to voice his support for people in Gaza during the recent attacks. “All our prayers go out for all the Gaza inhabitants who are once more victims of unfair bombings that don’t forgive women or children,” <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/football/2023/10/17/652ef2fd22601d066c8b459e.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> the soccer star.</p>



<h2>Senator calls on severe punishment for French forward</h2>



<p>Following Darmanin’s comments regarding Benzema, fellow French politician Valerie Boyer has called for the striker to be stripped of his recent Ballon d’Or award. This is, of course, assuming that Benzema has real ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 BREAKING: French Senator Valerie Boyer has asked for Karim Benzema to be stripped of his Ballon d&apos;Or and his French citizenship, if Minister of Interior Darmanin’s claims about Benzema having “ties to the Muslim Brotherhood” are verified.<br><br>“We can’t accept a dual nationalist… <a href="https://t.co/3zngqAoUz5">pic.twitter.com/3zngqAoUz5</a></p>— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadridXtra/status/1714616764779155782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>The senator also called on Benzema to lose his French citizenship as well. The star striker was born in Lyon, France to parents of Algerian descent. “We cannot accept that a French dual national, internationally known, could dishonor and even betray our country in this way,” Boyer <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/17ar103/french_senator_val%C3%A9rie_boyer_has_asked_for_the/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posted</a> on social media.</p>



<h2>Benzema won Ballon d’Or after stellar season with Real Madrid</h2>



<p>Benzema shocked many around the sport by collecting the 2022 Ballon d’Or award. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/france-national-team-tv-schedule/">France</a> international edged out Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne for the trophy. It was the first time since 2006 that Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo did not finish in the top three of the voting.</p>



<p>The former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> star collected the prestigious award after guiding the team to two top trophies. Real won the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> title and triumphed in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> as well. Benzema became the fifth French player to ever win the award.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO &amp; NurPhoto</em></p>


French senator wants Benzema stripped of Ballon d'Or

Valerie Boyer, a senator from France, has called for Karim Benzema to be stripped of his Ballon d'Or award if it is true that he has ties to an alleged terrorist organization.

French senator wants Benzema stripped of Ballon d'Or - World Soccer Talk

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Lionel Messi could receive soccer's highest award: what is the Super Ballon d'Or?

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French senator wants Benzema stripped of Ballon d'Or