ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JUNE 10: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions ... [+]
The Ballon d’Or is soccer’s most prestigious individual prize. Dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the last 15 years, there is greater debate over who could get their hands on the prize this season - although Messi might end up adding a record eighth Ballon d’Or to his collection after winning the 2022 World Cup.
Pep Guardiola, someone who played a key role in turning Messi into the world’s best, believes it should go to a different player, though. Indeed, he has strongly argued for Erling Haaland to win a first Ballon d’Or after the Norwegian striker was integral to Manchester City’s Treble-winning success of last season.
“Haaland should win - Yes. We won the treble and he scored 50 million goals,” said Guardiola when asked to suggest a Ballon d’Or winner for 2023. His argument, while simplistic, is a persuasive one. Manchester City were indeed the best team in Europe last season and Haaland was their exceptionally dangerous frontman.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Pep Guardiola the manager of Manchester City embraces Erling ... [+]
Haaland set a new record for the most goals in a single Premier
Of course, Messi’s achievement in Qatar was historic. Argentina hadn’t won the World Cup since the days of Diego Maradona and Messi delivered the one prize that had evaded him his entire career until that point. Haaland, meanwhile, watched the 2022 World Cup from home due to Norway’s failure to qualify.
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ... [+]
“The Ballon d'Or has to be two sections,” said Guardiola. “One for Messi, and after look for the others. The worst season of Messi is the best for the rest.” Most bookmakers have Messi as the favourite to win another Ballon d’Or even after an underwhelming club campaign at Paris Saint-Germain in the first half of 2023.
A generational transition is taking place at the top of elite level soccer. Messi now plays in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami while Ronaldo is at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Haaland, along with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, represents the next generation. He is at the vanguard of the new era.
Whether or not Haaland wins the 2023 Ballon d’Or, he is likely to be in contention for the prize for the next decade. Players like the Norwegian don’t come along very often. If Haaland keeps scoring goals and winning matches, a Ballon d’Or trophy will come his way at some point in the future.