Nick Wright· Jul 20, 2026
Nick Wright predicted Lionel Messi will sweep the individual honors at this World Cup — winning a third Golden Ball and the Golden Boot — and separately said Lamar Jackson's most likely 2026 outcome is a solid year as roughly the sixth or seventh best quarterback in football, while handicapping LeBron James's free agency with Cleveland as the clear favorite and his own bet.
“He's gonna have three golden balls, more than anybody ever.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
4 checkable claims — 2 award picks, 1 positional finishe and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
4 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Award PicksJul 20, 2026
Leo Messi to win Golden Boot
“He right now is the favorite to win the Golden Boot, will become the only person ever with a golden Ball and a golden boot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsCleveland BrownsJul 20, 2026
Lebron to move to Cleveland Browns
“I think Cleveland is the clear favorite... if you were to offer me an even money bet, my bet would be Cleveland.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJul 20, 2026
Leo Messi to win Golden Ball
“He's got to be a huge favorite because Rodery from Spain's probably not gonna win it... Like he's gonna have three golden balls, more than anybody ever.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesLamar JacksonBaltimore RavensJul 20, 2026
Lamar Jackson to finish top ? at his position, by passing yards
“the most likely outcome for Lamar next year is a solid year where he's like the sixth or seventh best quarterback in football. That's what I think is the most likely.”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
What others said about the same people
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Baltimore RavensClose · 58In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jared DubinGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Dubin is high on the Ravens and low on the Colts, predicting a big Baltimore road win.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Gregg RosenthalAward Picks · Tristan WirfsMiss · 0Rosenthal picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Micah Parsons for Defensive Player of the Year, Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Player of the Year, Aaron Glenn for Coach of the Year, Travis Hunter for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bill Callahan for Assistant Coach of the Year and Tristan Wirfs for Protector of the Year. He also made depth-chart calls on Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker.
- Jourdan RodrigueAward Picks · Penei SewellMiss · 0Rodrigue picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Jared Verse for Defensive Player of the Year, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year, TreVeyon Henderson for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Abdul Carter for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Jesse Minter for Assistant Coach of the Year and Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year.
- Brandon SneideAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Snyder picks the Seahawks to beat the Patriots 31-23 in Super Bowl 60, believing Seattle pulls away late, and says Drake Maye will finish second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford.
- Chris BroussardAward Picks · Cooper KuppMiss · 0Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP.
- Eric ManginiAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP.
- Danny ParkinsAward Picks · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaMiss · 0Parkins picked Seattle to win 27-16 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Super Bowl MVP.