Lionel Messi or Erling Haaland? The battle for the 2023 Ballon d’Or is on…
Last night, the nominees were chosen, with the Argentine superstar and the Manchester City number nine the most notable players on the shortlist.
Both players have been exceptional.
Messi obviously played a big part in Argentina winning the World Cup, and is gunning for his eighth award.
And Haaland set all kinds of records last term, as City won an historic Treble.
The Ballon d’Or could go either way – but in the eyes of all-knowing talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, Messi should scoop this year’s award…
Gabby Agbonlahor thinks Lionel Messi should win 2023 Ballon d’Or over Erling Haaland
Haaland is probably the slight favourite to win the award for his incredible goalscoring antics last term and the success of City as a team.
Predictably then, Agbonlahor has gone against the grain and argued that Messi should win this time.
He said: “Winning the World Cup… he was outstanding. I was at the Mexico game and I’ve never felt adrenaline like it. The love he had from the Argentina fans. He was like a god on the pitch. even that game against Mexico, it was tight and then he picks it up on his left foot… bang, bottom corner.
“In his mind, he was going to drag this team to win the World Cup. He’ll be unlucky Haaland, but his will come, next year I would imagine. But when you win the World Cup and how well Messi played in that World Cup, it was outstanding.”
City have six other players on the shortlist for the award. Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Josko Gvardiol and
And goalkeeper Ederson has been nominated for the Yashin Trophy.
Man City striker Erling Haaland deserves to win the Ballon d’Or
Granted, Messi lit up the World Cup and put in a string of man-of-the-match displays for Argentina.
He was also superb for Paris Saint-Germain before he moved to Inter Miami.
But Haaland would be a deserving winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
What the Norwegian did last season was truly special, and in his first term as a City player, too.
Everyone knew he’d score goals, but no one thought he plunder 52 in all competitions.
He was amazing and it would be a travesty if he lost out after having had such a season.
