If Vice World Champion Adrien Rabiot from Juventus has his way, Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) will not win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time at the end of the month. The Frenchman considers his compatriot Kylian Mbappé from PSG or Manchester City’s top scorer Erling Haaland to be more worthy winners.
At RMC Sport, Rabiot explained: “I hear from a lot of people that Messi will win. But on a sporting level it’s a matter between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. Which of these two is ahead depends on the criteria. There never is Unanimity on something like this, but it will be between these two. I exclude everyone else.”
Mbappé had a great season at PSG and also impressed at the World Cup in Qatar, including scoring a hat-trick in the lost final against Messi’s Argentinians. After his transfer from BVB to the Premier League, Haaland played a record season and won the treble with Manchester City.
Veteran Messi, on the other hand, had a weak return series in Paris after his outstanding World Cup finals and only delivered again after his move to Inter Miami. The 36-year-old is considered the favorite for the award, which he has already received seven times.
Former professional Craig Burley made similar comments to Rabiot a few days ago. Today’s ESPN pundit said: “If Erling Haaland doesn’t win the prize, you should close up shop. Lionel Messi won the World Cup. That’s a great achievement, but it’s over a four-week period. His general form in the League wasn’t the best. PSG was terrible.”
If Haaland doesn’t win, Burley even recommends that he “never go to a Ballon d’Or ceremony again.”
The winner of the Ballon d’Or will be awarded at a gala on October 30th at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. At the beginning of September, France Football announced the 30 nominees, including Mbappé, Haaland and Messi.
2023-10-12 00:09:11
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