Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes there should be two Ballon d’Or awards this season – one for Lionel Messi and one for Erling Haaland. He claimed that there should always be one Ballon D’or kept aside for Messi and another one for others to win.
Haaland was on the scoresheet twice on Sunday as Manchester City picked up another derby win against Manchester United. The Norwegian was not involved much in the first 25 minutes of the match. However, a penalty was awarded to City and Haaland calmly converted it in the 26th minute.
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— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 29, 2023
Haaland scored again early in the second half to give City a comfortable 2-0 lead. After City dominated the next half an hour, they finally found a third. This time, Haaland, unselfishly, turned provider for Phil Foden. The Blue half of Manchester rejoiced with the derby spoils as City won 0-3 at Old Trafford.
However, all of Haaland’s performance after July 31, 2023, will get added to the Ballon d’Or 2024. The 2023 award’s timeline was from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. In that period, Haaland broke the English Premier League‘s goalscoring record and won the treble with City. On the other hand, Messi achieved his holy grail by winning the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Pep Guardiola: “The Ballon d’Or? I have great affection for both Messi and Haaland. If Messi wins, it will be a fair win because of the World Cup, and if Haaland wins, it will be fair to the season he had. They should give two awards this year, they both deserve to win.” @SC_ESPN… pic.twitter.com/LKhI6QR9cA
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Guardiola claimed, “The Ballon d’Or? I have great affection for both Messi and Haaland. If Messi wins, it will be a fair win because of the World Cup, and if Haaland wins, it will be fair to the season he had. They should give two awards this year, they both deserve to win.”
The manager has never shied away from showing that he is a Messi fan through and through. It comes as no surprise, however, because he was at the forefront when the phenomenon named Messi came through.
Pep Guardiola explains the mentality that makes Lionel Messi different from Erling Haaland
In April 2022, City defeated Southampton 4-1 and Haaland scored two of the four goals. Guardiola was asked by reporters about the difference between Haaland and Messi. The Spaniard claimed that Haaland was always happy no matter what.
According to Goal, Guardiola said, “Haaland is always happy, always smiling. Lionel Messi scored two but not three and was a bit sad because he didn’t score the third! Erling is all the time in an incredible mood. Even in the bad moments at the beginning of this season when people said he couldn’t adapt, he arrived at training with a big smile and said hi to everyone. He has had an incredible impact, not just on the pitch.”
The Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony is set to take place on Monday, October 30, 2023. Reports suggest that Messi is expected to win a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or.