Pep Guardiola gives Lionel Messi or Erling Haaland Ballon d’Or verdict

Erling Haaland should share the Ballon d’Or with Lionel Messi according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. The City striker, who plundered his 52 goals in all competitions as Guardiola’s side chased down a treble, is up against World Cup winning legend Messi.

But Guardiola believes the pair have an equal claim to the coveted award when it is awarded at the end of this month.

“Haaland should win, yes, scoring 50 million goals but of course Messi… the worst season of Messi is the best for the rest,” he said. “There should be two sections: one for Messi and one for the others. But both deserve it. Realistically I want to say Erling because he helped us achieve the treble..

“But they won the World Cup. What is really nice is so many players from Man City will be there after many years. That makes us so proud.”

Seven of City’s treble winning stars are on the men’s long list for the individual award with Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Ilkkay Gundogan, Ruben Dias, Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva making up magnficent seven.

With Gundogan having left for Barcelona, Josko Gvardiol, who signed in the summer from RB Leipzig, makes up a seven strong contingent heading from the Etihad.

Messi, red hot favourite to land the award, has won the Ballon D’Or a record seven times and Haaland is trying to become the first Premier League player to win since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.

Only two English based players have been honoured with the award since George Best in 1968 – Michael Owen honoured in 2001 and Ronaldo seven years later.

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Guardiola is hoping to buck the recent trend this weekend with his City side looking to avoid a third consecutive league defeat. And he admitted they face a difficult task against a quality side.

“They are so difficult. They always find the right man free depending on what you do,” said Guardiola. “A team plays so slow and then after is so quick, like counter attack. After playing so slow. They play perfectly with two rhythms and control the game.”

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