– The fact that we have a Norwegian who is making such a strong case is completely absurd. It’s something I never thought we’d get. This is what news expert Carl-Erik Torp says about the upcoming awarding of the Golden Ball (Ballon d’or), which will be awarded in Paris on Monday evening. Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Ødegaard are both nominated on the men’s side, the most prestigious individual award for footballers. But it is the Argentinian World Cup winner Lionel Messi who is the big favorite to walk away with the big prize that named the best soccer player in the world. Leaks The Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano, known for revealing a whole series of player transfers first, claimed already last week to know that Messi will win his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday night. Who is the deserving winner of the Ballon d’Or for the 2022/2023 season? Haaland Messi Mbappé Rodri Another Show result So – is Haaland really as hopeless as many people think? For only the second time in the 67-year history of the award, it will be awarded on the basis of the achievements made in the previous season, not the previous calendar year. In his first season for City, Haaland scored an incredible 36 goals in 35 games in the Premier League, 12 goals in 11 games in the Meisterliga – and was top scorer in both tournaments. In addition, he won both the Premier League, the Meisterliga and the FA Cup. – If I’m not shocked, Messi scored 16 goals in 32 games for a series-winning PSG in Ligue 1, four goals in seven games in the Meisterliga – and won the World Cup for Argentina. – For me, Erling is actually the best player in the world right now. I reckon he’ll take that golden ball home with him. If not, I will be shocked, says Jørgen Strand Larsen to news. BELIEVE IN ERLING: Jørgen Strand Larsen thinks Haaland should win. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB news’s expert commentator, Carl-Erik Torp, nevertheless believes that it is completely understandable that Messi is the favorite and probably runs away with the award. – Messi won the World Cup, and unfortunately for Norway, it was very different. I would therefore be surprised if the Argentine did not run away with the victory. Pulling out a Spaniard There are also those who want to throw a third name into the pot. Michael Bradley, who has played both in the Netherlands, Germany, England, Italy and the USA, believes there is another City player who must be mentioned when a golden ball is handed out. – He won’t win, but Rodri was very, very, very important for City last season. It will be interesting to see. They are all incredible, says Bradley to news. LIKES RODRI: Michael Bradley has a great sense of City’s midfield elegance. Photo: Jørn Lien / news Bradley, son of Stabæk coach Bob, is in Norway to learn more about Norwegian football and will work for free for Stabæk for the rest of the season. He thinks it is a good question who should win the award. – Messi won the World Cup, so you can argue for him. Haaland also has a good chance with all the goals he has scored and what he has done for what is, in my eyes, the best team in the world, says the American. Ødegaard: – Will be exciting At a press conference with the national team, Martin Ødegaard was asked who he thinks will walk away with the winner in the tough selection. – It’s probably between Erling and a couple of others, I guess. It will be exciting to see what happens. But for me, it is of course cool to be nominated and recognized in that way. It’s cool anyway, said Ødegaard then. National team manager Ståle Solbakken believes it is between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Haaland. – But if you ask me who I think will win, I think Messi will win because of the WC. There is always a weak assumption in a World Cup year and Mbappé was there too. It’s probably the three of them, stated Solbakken. Messi has received the prestigious award seven times previously. – So Erling has both top score titles and broken records and all the player titles in England this year, plus he won the most rewarding club tournament. So he is also putting in a strong position, added the national team manager. EXCITED: Ståle Solbakken believes the Golden Ball award is between three players. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Pep: – He deserves both The powerful manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola has trained both Messi and Haaland. He struggles to proclaim who will be a deserving winner. – Erling should win, yes. We won three trophies and he scored 50 goals, but of course you have Messi. The worst season for Messi is the best for the others. They both deserve it, the Spaniard answered at a recent press conference. Strand Larsen is Haaland’s striker colleague in the national team and often sees the Jærbow up close. Strand Larsen is clear that he is trying to learn a lot from the City star. – I am looking forward to coming to the national team meeting, because then I can have a look at him. It will be difficult not to. When he has achieved what he has achieved, and I may have struggled a bit with what I want to achieve, it is easy to look away from him and take some lessons, he says. The Gullballen selection will be broadcast on TV 2 Play from 1930 on Monday evening. The criteria for winning the Ballon d’Or The voting criteria were updated in 2022 and now emphasize three main factors. 1: The player’s individual performance in the previous season 2: The contribution to the team’s success 3: How the player behaves on the pitch Source.
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– Will be shocked if Erling doesn’t win – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
