The argument about who will win the Ballon d’Or – Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi or Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is gaining traction. Team Haaland has the treble-winning debut season in focus while Team Messi argues that he was the one behind Argentina’s World Cup win. Arguing on the same and explaining his reasons is a former Premier League star, who has played for over 9 teams in his career.

Darren Bent, a former Ipswich Town player, has made his pick as he stands with Messi. Bent explained his reasons as to why he thinks the Argentine should win the award.

Former Premier League star is Team Lionel Messi

In a talkSPORT interview, when asked who did he think should win the Ballon d’Or, Bent said, “He’s (Lionel Messi) the greatest player of this era. There are arguments about players before but he’s the greatest player I’ve ever watched.”

The interviewer then counters his choice by stating that the Ballon d’Or is earned over a player’s last 12 months’ performance in Europe. To this Bent says, “He (Lionel Messi) hasn’t been the best in the past 12 months but in the World Cup he carried his team to the World Cup final. He scored two in the final as well. The moment he lifted that World Cup he was always going to win that Ballon d’Or.”

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As of now, Lionel Messi leads the race of being the favorite to win the award. Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi both arguably had a perfect season. In an interview, another former Premier League player told Haaland to ditch the Ballon d’Or ceremony if Messi wins.

Read More – “If Erling Haaland Doesn’t Win This, Close the Shop” – Soccer Pundit Boldly States Lionel Messi Doesn’t Deserve His 8th Ballon d’Or, and Backs the Manchester City Star

Former Derby County player says Haaland deserves it more

Former Derby County player Craig Burley believes that Erling Haaland deserves the Ballon d’Or more than Lionel Messi. Both players had exceptional seasons, but Burley sees Haaland’s debut season with Manchester City as a fairytale.

Burley expressed his frustration with Messi’s frequent Ballon d’Or wins, even when other deserving players are in the mix. He pointed to Robert Lewandowski, who missed out on the award due to the COVID-related cancellation of the competition. Burley’s opinion underscores the belief that Haaland’s remarkable performance should not go unnoticed in the race for soccer’s most prestigious individual accolade.

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Who do you think should win the Ballon d’Or? Does Lionel Messi deserve it more than the Norwegian? Let us know in the comments below.