The anticipation for the highly coveted Ballon d’Or prize is building up, and Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has recently given his thoughts on who he believes will emerge as the winner. The race is said to be between Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.
In a press conference held on Friday, Guardiola acknowledged Haaland’s exceptional goal-scoring prowess, particularly during City’s triumphant treble-winning season. Nevertheless, he emphasized that Messi’s leadership in guiding Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup should not be overlooked.
Reflecting on his perspective, Guardiola shared, “I have always advocated for dividing the Ballon d’Or into two categories – one for Messi and the other for the rest. Haaland deserves to win, no doubt about that. He contributed immensely to our treble success, scoring an astounding number of goals. I would love to see Erling clinch the title. However, we must consider that Messi… Leo won the World Cup!”
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, is expected to secure the Ballon d’Or for an unprecedented eighth time on October 30. Should this prediction come to fruition, it will further solidify the 36-year-old’s legendary status, surpassing his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has claimed the accolade five times.
