Just a few days ago, the much-anticipated official list of the 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees was finally released by France Football magazine. With some of the biggest names who have enjoyed a phenomenal year included in the list, such as Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe, fans and pundits alike have been fervently debating who should win this prestigious accolade. Amidst all this, Norwegian team manager, Stale Solbakken took a bold stance and snubbed his star player, Haaland, in favor of Messi.

Winning the Ballon d’Or is undoubtedly a momentous milestone in any player’s career, given its status as the most esteemed individual award in soccer. For Messi, this honor has already been bestowed upon him a record-breaking seven times. On the other hand, Erling Haaland, the young Norwegian prodigy could win it for the first time.

Stale Solbakken picks Lionel Messi over Erling Haaland

Both Haaland and Meesi had remarkable seasons, leaving fans and experts torn about who should win. On one hand, the 36-year-old played a pivotal role in leading his national team to victory in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years. On the other hand, Erling Haaland had a spectacular year with Manchester City, breaking numerous goal-scoring records and clinching a treble with his exceptional performances.

While Haaland’s remarkable achievements have made him a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or, the Norwegian manager has surprisingly opted for Messi as the frontrunner for the prestigious award. In a recent interview, Stale Solbakken gave his thoughts on the possible outcome of this year’s Ballon d’Or.

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He said, “It will most likely be between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland. Then there are the outsiders just below them”. However, according to Solbakken, Messi’s crucial role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph elevates him above his competitors. He further added, “If you ask me who I think will win, I would say Messi will win it because of the World Cup triumph. That always has an impact”.

While Haaland’s individual achievements and records broken cannot be ignored, Solbakken firmly believes that the significance of winning a World Cup tips the scales in Messi’s favor. But not everyone feels the same way about this argument.

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Popular pundit believes Haaland is the clear winner

In the discussion surrounding the potential winner of the Ballon d’Or, esteemed pundit Craig Burley gave his strong opinion. He argued that Lionel Messi is not deserving of the award and that it should be given to Haaland instead. He boldly stated, “I tell you what, do us all a favor, and if Erling Haaland doesn’t win this; close the shop”.

The former player further added, “Lionel Messi won the World Cup. It’s a great achievement, but it’s a four-week period”. He believes Messi’s performance with PSG is not deserving of this accolade. Burley further emphasized Haaland’s remarkable achievements from the previous season when he scored an impressive 52 goals. While opinions will naturally vary, fans eagerly await October 30th when the official announcement will be made.

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Who is your pick for this year’s Ballon d’Or? Let us know in the comments.