Former Montpellier football player and current Qatar club Umm Salal player Andy Delors said that Manchester City forward Erling Haaland is a more valuable candidate for the Ballon d’Or than Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi. Delora quotes RMC Sports.
“For me this is the end of Messi’s story, he should have been rewarded. But everyone knows Haaland must win this season. I respect Messi and his career but it’s a shame. After a season like this, Haaland should have won the Ballon d’Or,” Delors said.
On October 30, Messi received the Ballon d’Or. The award ceremony took place at the Chatelet Theater in Paris.
This award was the eighth award in the career of the Argentine national team captain. No one has won the Ballon d’Or more often than Messi. He received the prestigious award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
In December 2022, Messi became world champion as part of the Argentine national team. In the decisive match, the South Americans beat France in a penalty shootout.
After playing for two years in the French team Paris Saint-Germain, Messi was transferred to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023. He made his debut for the club by scoring from a free kick in the first leg.
Anatoly Byshovets, formerly former coach of the Russian national football team statedI think Messi received the Ballon d’Or as he deserved.