Soccer

Norway coach believes Lionel Messi will win Ballon d'Or over Erling Haaland

Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland lead the race for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, but even Norway manager Stale Solbakken thinks the Argentine star will win the award.

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Updated on
September 13, 2023 09:25AM EDT

The wait will be over soon. France Football has revealed the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland expected to make the final cut before the winner is announced.

The Argentine star didn’t have a great year with PSG, but he did have a memorable performance at Qatar 2022, leading Argentina to their third World Cup title.

Haaland, on the other hand, shone in his first season in England by helping Manchester City win the treble. Even so, even Norway coach Stale Solbakken believes the World Cup will give Messi the edge.

Norway coach thinks Messi, not Haaland, will win 2023 Ballon d’Or

“It’s probably between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling,” Solbakken said, via the Manchester Evening News. “And then there are some outsiders under there. If you ask who I think will win, I think Messi will win because of the World Cup. There is always an emphasis on this year with the World Cup. Mbappé was there too.“

However, he clarified that his striker at the national team still made a case to be in contention: “Then Erling has top scorer titles, he has broken records and all the ‘player of the year’ titles in England, plus he won the most prestigious club tournament. He also stands strong.”

Who are the 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees?

Josko Gvardiol (Leipzig / Manchester City)
Andre Onana (Inter Milan / Manchester United)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid / Al-Ittihad)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt / PSG)
Jude Bellingham (Dortmund / Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla / Al-Hilal)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Kim Min-Jae (Napoli / Bayern Munich)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City / Barcelona)
Rodri (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Harry Kane (Tottenham / Bayern Munich)
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Lionel Messi (PSG / Inter Miami)

Video: AI simulates Lionel Messi speaking English

How many times has Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or?

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or on seven occasions (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021).

Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.