- Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are among the favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award
- However, opinion remains divided on who between the two football stars deserves the award more
- Messi was pivotal in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, while Haaland has helped put Man City on course to win the treble
Football fans are divided on who between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland should win this year’s Ballon d’Or award.
Messi appeared to have emerged as the clear frontrunner for the award after an incredible 2022 for both club and country.
The football icon, who has won the accolade a record seven times, became a favourite to win it for an unprecedented eighth time after he led Argentina to World Cup glory in December 2022.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was pivotal in Argentina’s triumph in the global football showpiece as he scored an incredible seven goals.
According to Sky Sports, that accomplishment saw Messi cement his place as the greatest footballer of all time.
Messi’s PSG struggles
However, the Barcelona icon has not been able to replicate his World Cup form in the second half of the 2022/23 season with PSG.
Messi has managed just four goals so far for the French giants, who were bundled out of the Champions League in the round of 16.
While they look on course to win the Coupe de la Ligue, Messi’s latest struggles could see him face stiffer competition in his bid to win the Ballon d’Or.
Can Haaland beat Messi to Ballon d’Or?
ESPN recently polled fans on the possibility of Haaland beating Messi to the Ballon d’Or award, and opinion was largely divided.