Lionel Messi pips Erling Haaland to Ballon d'Or but Man City win top award

Erling Haaland missed out on landing the most prestigious individual prize in football as Lionel Messi picked up his eighth Ballon d'Or.

Manchester City striker Haaland secured the Gerd Muller Trophy at a glitzy ceremony in Paris put on by France Football - the magazine which founded the awards and organises them every year - as the highest-scoring player last season, netting 52 for City and another four for Norway. But he was overlooked for the main award, finishing second behind Messi after the Inter Miami forward's contribution to Argentina winning the World Cup.

Haaland's position is still the best-ever ranking for a City player in the Ballon d'Or votes and the club were well represented; seven Blues were on the 30-man shortlist with Rodri, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland all making the top 10 list, while Ilkay Gundogan also made it onto the shortlist after captaining City to the Treble. Ederson missed out on the Lev Yashin Trophy awarded to the best goalkeeper, although did make the top three for the third time in his career.

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City trio Yui Hasegawa, Khadija Shaw and Jill Roord were shortlisted for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, alongside former City winger Hayley Raso, while the Blues were named men's club of the year after winning the equivalent award last year. CEO Ferran Soriano was in Paris along with many of the players and spoke of the next targets.

“To be recognised at the Ballon d’Or for a second consecutive season is something that we as a club are incredibly proud of. The last 12 months have seen us reach heights that have topped the