Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes that both Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi deserve the Ballon d’Or for last season. Argentina’s record seven-time poll winner should have his own category, according to the Spanish coach.
Twenty-three-year-old Haaland scored 52 competitive goals in 53 matches last year and won the so-called treble with Manchester City – the English league, the English Cup and the Champions League. The Norwegian gunner already dominated the UEFA poll for the best footballer in Europe in August.
In December, the 36-year-old forward Messi led the Argentines to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years and with Paris St. Germain defended his French title. In the summer, he went to Inter Miami and immediately became the main attraction of the overseas MLS.
Guardiola on Ballon d’Or: “I always said that the Ballon d’Or had to be two sections. One for Messi and one for the others”.
“Haaland should win yes or yes. We won the treble, he scored a million goals. I’d love Erling to win. But Messi… Leo won the World Cup!”. pic.twitter.com/2drmKP3tNp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 20, 2023
“They both deserve it. I would like Haaland to win because he helped us achieve all the successes. He should get it because we won the treble and he scored a million goals. But Messi won the gold at the World Cup,” Guardiola said at the press conference conference before Saturday’s league game with Brighton.
“I always say that the Ballon d’Or should be divided into two parts – one for Messi and the other for another player. Messi’s worst season is like everyone else’s best season,” added the City coach, who managed the Argentine star at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012.
The organizers of the prestigious France Football magazine poll will announce the winner on October 30 in Paris. Since last year, when the French striker Karim Benzema triumphed, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded for a season and not for a calendar year.
2023-10-20 20:39:08
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