The Ballon d’Or trophy stands as the ultimate individual accolade in soccer. This year’s ceremony, scheduled for October 30 in Paris, has generated immense anticipation, with one of the greatest soccer stars of all time, Lionel Messi, aiming to secure an unprecedented 8th title. Yet, Messi’s path to glory is anything but straightforward, as he faces stiff competition from a rising star – Erling Haaland. However, a famous analyst has now shrugged off Haaland’s chances.

Despite Erling Haaland having a solid season with Manchester City and leading them to a historic treble, he is not considered worthy of competing against the likes of Lionel Messi.

Soccer analyst questions the worthiness of Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. His debut season with Manchester City saw him claim the treble and score an astonishing 52 goals across all competitions. He is undoubtedly one of the hottest prospects in the soccer world right now. However, famous analyst JJ Bull argues that the Norwegian’s playing style and limited versatility should disqualify him from Ballon d’Or contention.

In a podcast by Tifo Football and The Athletic, Bull’s argument centers on Haaland’s perceived mono-positional play, with the star forward primarily operating as an out-and-out striker. “Haaland, although he’s very exciting to watch, doesn’t do the things, he’s only mono-positional, he only plays upfront as a striker and doesn’t drop in to help out,” Bull boldly proclaimed.

“We know that being multi-positional helps you. Look at Messi, and all those players who won it, they can play any number of positions that helps. Haaland plays for Man City who are European Champions, so maybe, that does come into factor but Haaland doesn’t do skills so get rid of him.” He contended that Haaland’s single-minded approach may limit his candidacy.

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Although Erling Haaland certainly has a strong case for winning the Ballon d’Or with his goal-scoring prowess last season, is facing stiff competition from Lionel Messi, arguably the best player in the world. It remains to be seen whether Haaland will win the Ballon d’Or this year. However, there is no doubt that he is one of the best players in the world, and he deserves to be in contention for the award.

Man City boss Guardiola’s diplomatic reply

Notably, the Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has thrown his support behind both Messi and Haaland. Guardiola believes that the Ballon d’Or should have two sections, one for Lionel Messi and another for Erling Haaland. “We won the treble, he scored a million goals,” Guardiola stated, highlighting Haaland’s pivotal role in their success. However, the Spaniard recognized that what might be considered a mediocre season for Messi remains an exceptional one for others, reiterating that both players deserve the honor.

As the world eagerly anticipates the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the debate surrounding Erling Haaland’s deserving place beside Lionel Messi intensifies. The outcome remains uncertain, but what’s undeniable is that the conversation surrounding the Ballon d’Or is more contentious than ever, and Erling Haaland stands at the heart of it all.

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