Former Montpellier player turned Umm Salal forward Andy Delors weighed in on the Ballon d’Or race, arguing that Erling Haaland should be the clear favorite ahead of Lionel Messi. Delors, speaking with RMC Sports, asserted that Haaland’s form this season makes him the prime candidate to lift the award, even as he praised Messi’s storied career. Delors emphasized that Messi deserves recognition for his past achievements, but his view remains that Haaland’s performances this year have set him apart and should earn him the Ballon d’Or this time around.
Messi’s Ballon d’Or journey has been remarkable, and his name has become synonymous with football excellence for more than a decade. The ceremony on October 30 took place at the Chatelet Theater in Paris, marking another chapter in a career that has already defined an era for club and country alike. Messi collected the prize, adding to a trophy cabinet that many believe is among the most decorated in the sport, reinforcing his status as a global icon of football. This latest win adds to a list of Ballon d’Or triumphs that spans across different phases of his professional life, underscoring the longevity and consistency that have characterized his career.
Messi’s influence extends beyond his trophy count. In December 2022, he helped Argentina clinch the World Cup, a success that resonated deeply across the football world. The decisive World Cup victory, achieved in a dramatic penalty shootout against France, solidified his place among the sport’s all-time greats and reaffirmed his ability to rise to the occasion on the sport’s biggest stage. The win also reflected the broader arc of Messi’s career, from his early days in Europe to his later chapters in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where he joined in the summer of 2023 and quickly made an immediate impact by scoring from a direct free kick in his debut match for the club.
Before arriving in North America, Messi’s journey included a highly successful spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain. His transfer to Inter Miami marked a new phase, one that saw him adapt to a different style of competition while continuing to perform at a level that keeps his name at the center of Ballon d’Or discussions. Analysts and fans alike have watched Messi’s career with fascination, noting how his performances have evolved over the years while still delivering moments of brilliance that remind observers why he is regarded as one of the sport’s most influential players.
In this ongoing debate over the Ballon d’Or, Anatoly Byshovets, who has previously coached the Russian national team, offered his own perspective. He expressed the view that Messi’s Ballon d’Or record was well deserved, reinforcing the notion that the Argentine star has earned his place in football history. The dialogue surrounding this award often reflects the broader narratives of football, where legends compete with the rising talents of a new generation and where the weight of past achievements is weighed against current form and potential impact on subsequent seasons.