In the world of soccer, where the spotlight often shifts swiftly from one rising star to another, it’s not every day that a young talent takes a moment to acknowledge the legends who’ve paved the way. Erling Haaland, the prolific Norwegian striker, has done just that. Nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive year, Haaland recently sat down with France Football to share his thoughts on two living legends of the game – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In a candid conversation, he showered them with praise, emphasizing their enduring brilliance despite crossing the age of 36.

As fans throughout the globe eagerly await the Ballon d’Or ceremony, it is set to be a fierce battle between Erling Haaland and Leo Messi. Let’s look further into the comments made by the Manchester City striker.

Erling Haaland admires Messi and Ronaldo’s longevity

Erling Haaland is one of the most exciting young players in world football, and he has already established himself as a prolific goalscorer at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. The 23-year-old acknowledges the impact of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the game. While talking to France Football, Haaland stated that despite the rising age of both the legends, they’re still making a great impact and are still fantastic.

As reported by TNT Sports, Erling Haaland said, “You have to emphasize the extent to which Messi and Cristiano have done crazy things and remember that they always do, because even if they get older, obviously, they are still fantastic.”

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As Erling Haaland’s star continues to rise, his words carry significant weight. At just 23 years old, he represents the future of football, a relentless goal-scoring machine. Yet, Haaland’s humility in acknowledging the ongoing brilliance of Messi and Ronaldo underscores the respect he has for the legacy these two players have built over their illustrious careers.

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Lionel Messi, 36, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 38, are both still going strong and playing at the highest level. Both the stars continue to break even more records. With Messi winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or seven times, and in contention for the eighth, and Ronaldo winning it five times, Haaland will be hoping to open his account this time.

Haaland and the race for the Ballon d’Or

The football world is eagerly awaiting the announcement of this year’s Ballon d’Or winner, and the competition couldn’t be more intense. Erling Haaland finds himself in a neck-and-neck race with none other than Lionel Messi for the coveted award. Unless a stunning upset occurs, it’s widely anticipated that one of these two footballing maestros will lift the prestigious trophy.

Interestingly, Ronaldo, who has been a Ballon d’Or mainstay for the past two decades, found himself outside the nominee list this time. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is on the nominations list. The Argentine could mark his record-extending eighth win, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

As the Ballon d’Or ceremony approaches, all eyes will be on these remarkable athletes, each contributing their unique chapter to the beautiful game. It will be interesting to see, who comes out on top in this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony and showcase their magic.

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Do you think Haaland will sideline Lionel Messi to win this year’s Ballon d’Or? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!