- By Himanshu Badola
- Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
FIFA Ballon d’Or 2023: Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are the front runners to clinch the Ballon d'Or 2023 as the ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday night in Paris.
However, the build-up has been promising for Argentina's captain as rumors have claimed a bit earlier that he is going to lift his record-eighth trophy by overpowering the Manchester City striker.
"It’s been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for nearly two decades. Moment after moment of spellbinding, breathtakingly joyous football. He’s a gift from the footballing Gods. So pleased that he’s lifted the ultimate prize in our sport. Gracias y felicidades, campeon," these golden words from the former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker summed up everything as Messi completed football after winning the World Cup in Qatar last year.
Linekar, who is known for his outspoken nature while analysing players and matches, has always been a Messi admirer as his post-World Cup final tribute to the Argentina captain on social media was perfect.
Messi led from the front as he took Argentina to its third World Cup title after falling short multiple times. The closer he came was in 2014 but ended up on the losing side in the final against Germany in Brazil in 2014.
He continued to struggle with the burden of huge expectations on the international stage ever since his debut as a long-haired teenager way back in 2005.
Messi was the key as Argentina defeated the strong France in the final despite Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick at the grandest stage with then PSG teammates trying their very best to put their hands on the trophy.
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Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni was blessed with an exceptional squad, as the likes of Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Cristian Romero, and flamboyant goalkeeper Emi Martinez all played key roles in their triumph.
Messi scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup, just one fewer than eventual Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe. He finished the tournament with the joint-highest number of assists (three) and key passes (21) and recorded more shots on target than any other player (13).
He also became the first-ever player to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final at a single edition of a World Cup, picking up a record five Man of the Match awards.
Messi also went on to win the Golden Ball for the best player of the Qatar competition as there was no better option for it. He is the only player ever to claim the prize twice, having received the prize for his performances in the 2014 edition as well.
The former Barcelona star has remarkable numbers in World Cups, having scored 13 goals and assisted eight times. Only three players have scored more World Cup goals than Messi - Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazario (15), and Gerd Muller (14).
Erling Haaland stands right beside Messi as the eligible contender for the prestigious prize after putting up something special in his debut season with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
There is a debate going on about whether the Norweigan is better enough to challenge the seven-time winner to lift the trophy. His case is helped by the fact that Messi hasn't had that much success at the club level lately, considering the standards he has set over the years.
Especially during his stint at Paris Saint-Germain where he might have a few trophies but was average with his individual performances.
Despite these considerable points, there is no comparison between the greatness of the two players as an individual with Messi being the proven legend while Haaland is on his way to achieving more in the coming years.
Messi finished his final season at PSG with 21 goals and 20 assists from 41 games across all competitions. Only Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, Mbappe, and Haaland recorded more goal contributions across Europe's biggest leagues.
Haaland shattered multiple records in his debut stint at the Etihad Stadium, smashing 36 Premier League goals to help them clinch the title.
The dangerous striker also scored 12 goals Haaland also scored 12 during City's run to a maiden Champions League title, three in the FA Cup and one in the Carabao Cup as the Blues clinched their first-ever treble.
Despite great numbers, Haaland cannot be considered as the player who has been a difference-maker at the big stages while Messi has done that throughout his career.
Haaland only scored once in his final eight appearances of the campaign and drew a blank in both the Champions League and FA Cup finals. The 22-year-old also failed to score in the semi-finals of those two competitions.
It is also a point that when Haaland is not on the scoresheet, he is questioned for his lack of involvement in City's general build-up play.
In contrast to that, Messi was far better and the go-to playmaker for Argentina and PSG respectively in 2022-23.
He was brilliant with opening up defences in the blink of an eye with a clever pass or effective runs, and always made the right decisions in the final third.
Undoubtedly Haaland is on the right track to become a prolific goalscorer in the coming future but it is very early and not a justice to mention him in the same bracket as Messi. Argentina are world champions because of him, and that alone makes him worthy of an eighth Ballon d'Or nod.
