Can ‘goal machine’ Haaland prevent World Cup winner Lionel Messi from capturing a record-tying eighth title?
Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in December of last year, led by Lionel Messi.
The competition for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, which was highlighted by last year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, is likely to be tremendously thrilling.
The Ballon d’Or race is heating up because of Lionel Messi’s World Cup brilliance and Erling Haaland’s amazing goal-scoring prowess in a Manchester City jersey.
In total, 30 players will be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. The list of nominees will be released on September 6. On September 30, the winner will be announced.
We take a look at the possible nominees and the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Messi vs Haaland battle
The FIFA World Cup trophy is an important factor in determining the winner of the Ballon d’Or. Last year, Lionel Messi almost single-handedly led Argentina to the World Cup triumph in Qatar.
The Argentine superstar was not only awarded the trophy but also the Golden Ball for his outstanding performance. Apart from his outstanding performance on the international stage, Messi also shone in domestic football last season.
Last season, when playing for his former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the 36-year-old scored 38 goals and assisted 25 times in all competitions. Messi’s brilliance helped PSG win the Ligue 1 title in 2022-23.
Erling Haaland, on the other hand, was outstanding in his debut season for Manchester City. Last season, the Norwegian scored 52 goals in 53 games to lead the Premier League giants to a historic treble.
Haaland was the leading scorer in both the Champions League (12) and the Premier League (36). Needless to say, these staggering figures will place Haaland in a strong position in his pursuit of the Ballon d’Or.
Who Will Win This Year’s Ballon d’Or?
While Messi’s performance was the result of his individual brilliance, Haaland’s figures were the result of an incredible team effort led by Pep Guardiola.
There is no doubt about Haaland’s incredible goal-scoring ability, but one must also consider Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri’s contributions in the midfield.
Also Read: All-Time Ballon d’Or winners
Messi, on the other hand, almost completely led Argentina from the front, guiding La Albiceleste to a historic World Cup victory in December of last year. Messi will undoubtedly put up a fight against Haaland, but the Argentine is anticipated to win the Ballon d’Or title in 2023.
Other Potential Candidates
Apart from Haaland and Messi, major names such as Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, and Vinicius Jr. are projected to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or award in 2023.
Mbappe may not have won the World Cup or the Champions League, but there was scarcely anyone better than the Frenchman last season in terms of individual brilliance.
Mbappe won the Ligue 1 title and the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot after scoring more than 50 goals for both club and country.
Meanwhile, Vinicius scored 25 goals and provided 26 assists as Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. However, failure to win the Champions League may jeopardize his prospects of winning the Ballon d’Or.
