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<\/p>\nErling Haaland has been urged to snub the Ballon d\u2019Or for life if 'muppet journos' overlook him for the award.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
However, former Scotland international Craig Burley reckons it would be a disgrace if Messi beats Haaland to the award, branding the Argentine\u2019s club former for \u2018terrible\u2019 Paris Saint-Germain as \u2018not the best\u2019 last season.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: 9 things we learned from Germany All or Nothing when they crashed out of World Cup groups<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cIf Erling Haaland doesn\u2019t win this, close the shop,\u201d Burley told ESPN. \u201cLionel Messi won the World Cup and it\u2019s a great achievement, but it\u2019s a four-week period. His general league form was not the best. PSG were terrible.<\/p>\n
\u201cErling 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\u2019t get off the Messi bandwagon but look at the bigger picture.<\/p>\n
Who should win the Ballon d\u2019Or? Tell us in the comments section below<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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\u201cThere\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis award, like a few awards, drives me nuts but he\u2019s the one that deserves it but I think out there it will be full of sentimental claptrap \u2013 Messi won the World Cup, Messi\u2019s this and Messi\u2019s that, and they will just hand him another one.<\/p>\n
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TNT is the only place you can watch all the action from the Champions League this year. You can see every game from the group stage right through to the final as Manchester City look to defend their crown as the newest kings of the World's biggest and best football tournament.<\/p>\n
\u00a329.99 a month<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if I was Erling Haaland, I would never go back to another Ballon d\u2019Or in my life, same as Robert Lewandowski.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Andr\u00e9 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 Mart\u00ednez (Aston Villa), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Ruben Dias (Man City), Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Erling Haaland (Man City), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Martin \u00d8degaard (Arsenal), Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez Man City), Ilkay G\u00fcndogan (Barcelona), Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Rodri (Man City), Lautaro Mart\u00ednez (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).<\/p>\n