Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooey has backed Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Recall that Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or last year ahead the likes of Sadio Mane and Kevin de Bruyne.
However, Rooney has now tipped Haaland to win the prestigious individual away this season, adding that the Norway international has put an end to the Messi-Ronaldo era.
“Erling Haaland is the best footballer in the world right now. Lionel Messi is the greatest,” Rooney told The Times.
“If you are looking at who is going to win the Ballon d’Or then it has got to be him, providing he keeps up his form this season. And why would not he? A record of 224 goals in 264 games is the mark of a player whose standards don’t drop.
“We have had the era of [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, now this is his time, the era of Haaland and Kylian Mbappe,” he said.
Haaland has so far scored 32 Premier League goals form Manchester City this season.
The 22-year-old is currently the top scorer in the Champions League with twelve goals so far.
He joined Man City from Bundesliga side, Dortmund last summer.
