Haaland was advised to skip the Golden Ball Gala if Messi won
"The Ballon d'Or, like many other awards, always makes me unhappy. Many people will applaud Messi, saying he won the World Cup. But if Haaland doesn't win this year, the Ballon d'Or should be stopped. . If it was Haaland, I would never attend the Ballon d'Or award again in my life, if Messi won," Burley said on ESPN on September 7.
This former Chelsea midfielder does not deny Messi's talent, and the importance of the Argentine superstar winning the 2022 World Cup. But according to Burley, the World Cup only lasts four weeks, and Messi is not in good form for most of it. Season. His PSG also played badly.
Messi and Haaland together in 30 nominations for the 2023 Golden Ball announced by the French magazine France Football on September 6. They are considered the two strongest candidates for this award.
Last season, Messi did not stand out at the club level, with 21 goals and 20 assists in 41 matches in all competitions with PSG. But he scored seven goals, including a brace in the final against France, helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup. The 36-year-old striker was also awarded the World Cup Golden Ball - the award for the best player in the tournament at Qatar 2022. .
Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 matches in all competitions, helping Man City win the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. He won all individual titles, including Best Player and Outstanding Young Player of the Premier League 2022-2023, awarded by the tournament organizers, Best Player in English Football this season by the Football Journalists Association. England (FWA) and the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) voted, Champions League top scorer, European Golden Shoe but did not join the Norwegian team to win tickets to the 2022 World Cup.
"Haaland has scored more than 50 goals, won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. He should win the award. I know there are many people who cannot stop supporting Messi, but let's look at the bigger picture. There will be many votes unconditionally for Messi. While Haaland achieved it all for a long time," Burley said.
The 2023 Golden Ball Awards ceremony will be held on October 30, at the Theater du Chatelet, Paris. If Messi wins, he will break his own record of winning the eighth Ballon d'Or in his career, three times more than second-place Cristiano Ronaldo. For Haaland, this title, if realized, will be the driving force for him to become the new superstar of world football.
