Lionel Messi verdict on Erling Haaland shows Man City shouldn't worry about Ballon d'Or snub

31.10.2023 - 12:35 manchestereveningnews.co.uk

56 goals and ten assists in 57 games, three major trophies including the Champions League, the Premier League and Champions League Golden Boots, and five prestigious individual Player of the Year awards.

But no Ballon d'Or for Erling Haaland after his sensational first 12 months at Manchester City. It begs the question, what more must a player do?

It turns out, the only thing Haaland didn't do last season, was simply not be Lionel Messi, who picked up the iconic award for the eighth time.

Messi dragged Argentina through the World Cup to win the tournament almost single-handedly, and has had a similar effect on MLS's 26th-best side.

Football awards show track on Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Bernardo Silva Julian Alvarez Ilkay Gundogan Argentina

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Kylian Mbappe has admitted that Lionel Messi deserved to beat himself and Erling Haaland to the 2023 Ballon d'Or after winning the World Cup with Argentina.

"Respect Elders": Lionel Messi Reacts After Manuel Ugarte's Obscene Gesture Towards Rodrigo De Paul

Uruguay ended Argentina's 14-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory over the world champions in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers on Thursday. Defender Ronald Araujo fired Uruguay ahead on 41 minutes before Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez made the game safe with an 87th-minute goal on the counterattack to settle a hard-fought clash at the Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. The game was filled with clashes and one of them included a verbal fight between Uruguay's Manuel Ugarte and Argentina's Rodrigo de Paul.

Lionel Messi's BFF branded X-rated insult as Uruguay star uses football's ultimate meme to troll rival

Uruguay and Argentina erupted into chaos as Rodrigo De Paul took exception to Manuel Ugarte's foul mouthed insult.

Lionel Messi Vs Uruguay: Ribut, Bikin Blunder, Argentina Keok

Lionel Messi menjalani hari buruk di laga Argentina vs Uruguay. La Pulga ribut dengan pemain lawan di lapangan, serta bikin kesalahan berujung gol La Celeste.

Argentina Vs Uruguay: Diwarnai Ribut-ribut, Lionel Messi dkk Kalah 0-2

Laga Argentina vs Uruguay di Kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2026 Zona Conmebol berjalan sengit. Diwarnai ribut-ribut, Lionel Messi dkk menyerah 0-2

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez face off in World Cup qualifying; Brazil could field teenager Endrick

SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi and Luiz Suarez, close friends and former teammates at Barcelona, will renew their on-the-field rivalry on Thursday in World Cup qualifying.