By Muheeb Mashood
On the 30th October 2023, seven-times record winner Lionel Messi and Manchester City hitman Erling Haaland are on the
driver’s seat to drag the 2023 Ballon d’Or during the grand celebration of the laureate award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Players during the 2022/23 campaign have made it to the shortlists as nominees for the biggest individual accolade to succeed the 2022 winner, Karim Benzema.
From a pool of 30-men finalists to a single individual, rested the beclouded winner to claim the honor and glory as best footballer of the year. However, two among these stunners have stood up to be the favorite candidates due to their amazing stats. Most decorated Argentine professional football star Lionel Messi and the revolutionary Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland lead the race.
Haaland
Erling Haaland moved to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after a record-breaking signing of £75 million in the 2022 summer transfer market. He became the most valuable player sold by Borussia Dortmund. This marked the beginning of a milestone for the 21-years-old poacher.
At the end of 22/23 season, the Norwegian superstar achieved a millennium accolades (collective and individual) in his career after breaking numerous records.
Haaland helped the European champions to win a remarkable treble, claiming their first ever, most anticipated UEFA Champions League, sinking different prominent European football clubs along the line. He also won the golden medals for the English League’s two major titles, Premier League and Emirates FA Cup.
The superstar ended his Premier league debut with 36 goals in 35 appearances, a figure unknown to English football. Also, he registered 12 goals in 11 matches, becoming the first player of his pair to score such a number of goals in a single UCL season. The lad concluded his previous campaign under the leadership of Pep Guardiola with 55 goals and nine assists.
The City’s striker won different individual awards. From EPL player of the year, EPL young player of the year to EPL top scorer and UCL highest goal scorer respectively.
Lionel Messi
After several years of pursuit, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi finally accomplished his zeal as he won the World Cup competition hosted in Qatar after a dramatic 3-3 Final against Kylian Mbappe’s France.
The Inter Miami captain joyously lifted his most awaited iconic trophy after a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout. Perhaps! The football great can never forget an iconic role played by his teammate Emeliano Martinez as his last minute amazing shot stop against the French striker Kolo Muani and his two tactical saves in the penalty shootouts handed Messi, 36, his treasury.
In the 2022/23 season, the Argentina great played a wonderful role in Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Ligue 1 title accomplishment, registering 15 assists and 16 goals in 32 appearances, finishing as Ligue 1 top assist provider and French Super Cup MVP.
He won the World Cup player of the tournament for the second time after his debut in 2014 against Germany, and silver boot, coming behind Kylian Mbappe’s 13 goals.
The star also bagged many international awards and recognitions. Among them are IFFHS best playmaker 2022, best National Scorer 2022, best player 2022 and FIFA best player 2022.
While City’s poacher national team failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup staged in Qatar, PSG was exited in 2023 UCL round of 16 by the German champions Bayern Munich.