Lionel Messi wins title with Inter Miami – Uli Hoeneß demands Ballon d'Or for Harry Kane

A quick snapshot first, to put things into perspective. Lionel Messi won another title with Inter Miami and also scored his 100th goal for David Beckham's club. In the 2-0 win against Cruz Azul, Messi made it 1-0 and paved the way for victory in the Campeones Cup, a kind of super cup between the champions from Major League Soccer and the Mexican Liga MX.

Messi scored with a header from a cross from Luis Suárez in the 24th minute. To score 100 goals in the Inter Miami jersey, the superstar needed 115 competitive games across all competitions. Against Azul, Messi came full circle: he scored his first goal for Miami against the Mexicans in July 2023. Messi was also directly involved in the second goal. Casemiro converted his corner kick with a header in the 81st minute to make the final score.

Team co-owner Beckham praised the Argentine superstar effusively after the victory - and promoted Messi, who has already won eight times, to be honored again. "When you see him doing things like he did tonight, when you look at the World Cup he played, it's not luck that he's being considered for the Ballon d'Or again," Beckham said.

Messi was "probably the best player of this tournament. He is 39 years old and has such an impact..." Messi is 39 years old and to have such an influence on every World Cup game like he did, that's something special." Beckham continued: "He deserves to be considered for the Ballon d'Or. In my opinion he should win."

At FC Bayern they see things completely differently. For Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeneß, there is no way around Harry Kane in the election for the world's best footballer this year. "He would have extremely deserved it. And I also hope that he gets it," Hoeneß told the "Münchner Abendzeitung".

“I think giving Messi the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time is nonsense,” said Hoeneß clearly. Unlike his competitors, Kane had “an outstanding season across all competitions,” explained Hoeneß: “If he doesn’t deserve it this year, when will he?”

In the journalists' vote for the Ballon d'Or, in addition to the Munich star striker, the Spanish world champions Lamine Yamal and Rodri, the two Frenchmen Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé and Messi are given good chances.

The also highly rated Mbappé, top scorer in the Champions League and the World Cup, "didn't even become Spanish champions" with Real Madrid, said the 74-year-old: "They didn't win a title at all - and we two."

Kane with 73 goals – only Messi once managed more

The 33-year-old Kane won the championship and the DFB Cup with Bayern, reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and became World Cup winner as captain of the English national team. He also won the Golden Boot as Europe's top scorer. In the last Bundesliga season he was top scorer for the third time in a row with 36 goals.

The ceremony will take place for the first time on October 26th at the London Palladium Theater. This year's edition has a special significance as the Ballon d'Or, founded by France Football in 1956, celebrates its 70th anniversary.

In total, Kane scored 73 competitive goals for club and national team in the previous season. Only Messi was more successful in the 2011/12 season with a total of 82 goals for FC Barcelona and the Argentine national team. This time there are no other candidates who clearly stand out with successes in both the European premier class and the World Cup.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was the last Munich professional to win the Ballon d'Or 45 years ago in 1981, after he had also won in 1980. Franz Beckenbauer (1972 and 1976) and Gerd Müller (1970) also secured the title as Bayern players.