Erling Haaland has been urged to snub the Ballon d’Or for life if 'muppet journos' overlook him for the award.
Haaland is one of seven Manchester City players on the 30-man shortlist for the prestigious gong, with the winner being announced in Paris on October 30. Despite firing City to a historic Treble last season, Lionel Messi is favourite to pick up the award for the eighth time after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
Having won the Copa America, plus numerous titles at club level, the World Cup was the crowning achievement for what many people regard as the greatest player of all time.
However, former Scotland international Craig Burley reckons it would be a disgrace if Messi beats Haaland to the award, branding the Argentine’s club former for ‘terrible’ Paris Saint-Germain as ‘not the best’ last season.
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“If Erling Haaland doesn’t win this, close the shop,” Burley told ESPN. “Lionel Messi won the World Cup and it’s a great achievement, but it’s a four-week period. His general league form was not the best. PSG were terrible.
“Erling Haaland? Over 50 goals, a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League. Erling Haaland should win this award. I know that a lot of people out there can’t get off the Messi bandwagon but look at the bigger picture.
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“There’s going to be a lot of muppet journos voting for Messi. The big picture here is that Erling Haaland achieved everything over a long period of time.
“This award, like a few awards, drives me nuts but he’s the one that deserves it but I think out there it will be full of sentimental claptrap – Messi won the World Cup, Messi’s this and Messi’s that, and they will just hand him another one.
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“And if I was Erling Haaland, I would never go back to another Ballon d’Or in my life, same as Robert Lewandowski.”
For the first time in two decades, there is no place on the shortlist for five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo following his switch to the Saudi Pro League.
Ballon d’Or shortlist
André Onana (Man Utd), Josko Gvardiol (Man City), Karim Benzema Al Ittihad), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Mo Salah (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Bernardo Silva Man City), Emi Martínez (Aston Villa), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Ruben Dias (Man City), Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Erling Haaland (Man City), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), Julián Álvarez Man City), Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Rodri (Man City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich).
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