On October 30th, the Ballon d’Or 2023 gala will officially take place in the capital city of Paris, France. Undoubtedly, the title of “Best Male Player of the Year” remains the most coveted award in football.
Currently, the race for this prestigious honor is between Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi. While the Manchester City forward helped the club achieve a historic treble by winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup, along with scoring an impressive 52 goals across all competitions, El Pulga possesses the accolade of winning the World Cup with the Argentine national team.
This intense competition between the two football icons has captured the attention of fans worldwide. Recently, Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario de Lima spoke up in support of Messi as the rightful winner of the Ballon d’Or 2023.
He stated, “Messi deserves the Ballon d’Or this year. I believe he will be the winner. Winning the World Cup is a bigger achievement than any other competition.”
Clearly, even though Messi missed out on a treble, his performance at the Qatar World Cup has earned him significant praise. The Argentine striker delivered seven remarkable goals, earning him the title of “Best Player of the World Cup 2022.” If he can clinch the Ballon d’Or in Paris on October 30th, it will be his record-breaking 8th Ballon d’Or victory, a truly commendable feat.
In a recent media interview, Messi himself asserted that he is no longer overly concerned about the award. However, his unmatched talent and stellar performances on the world stage make the 35-year-old forward a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.
As for Haaland, even if he falls short against Messi, concluding his first season with Manchester City with a treble is an extraordinary achievement for the Norwegian striker.
