Manchester City striker Erling Haaland believes that he can challenge seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi for the 2023 award.
Both Haaland and Messi are widely considered to be the two frontrunners to claim this year's individual accolade after winning two of the most prestigious trophies in world football between them last season.
Haaland spearheaded a Man City attack that won a historic Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble, scoring an exceptional 52 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions and breaking a plethora of goalscoring records in the process.
The 22-year-old has already got his hands on the PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player & Young Player of the Year, and Man City Player of the Season awards, and is now in contention to win his first Ballon d'Or.
Messi, meanwhile, is bidding to receive a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or after successfully leading Argentina to World Cup glory at the 2022 tournament in Qatar – the nation's first world title in 36 years.
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The 36-year-old attacker also won the Ligue 1 title in his final season with Paris Saint-Germain, and has since made an electric start to life at MLS outfit Inter Miami, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 11 matches.
Haaland, who has since won the UEFA Super Cup with Man City and scored six goals in just four Premier League appearances in the new season, believes that he is rightly in the running to rival Messi for this year's Ballon d'Or.
Asked during an interview with France Football, via the Daily Mail, if he considers himself as one of the best strikers in world football, Haaland said: "In my mind... It all depends on what we mean by striker. It's a trick question.
"I'm definitely up there. Am I the best? Maybe. I know I can still improve a great deal. I'm still young. But yes, I believe I have a chance this year."
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Man City's No.9 added: "I'd like people to remember me as a special player, in the way I play. This is what I'm trying to do every week: show special stuff."
Haaland is one of seven Man City players to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or along with Messi's Argentine teammate Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and new signing Josko Gvardiol, who joined from RB Leipzig this summer, while treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan – now at Barcelona – is also up for the award.
The likes of PSG's Kylian Mbappe and the 2022 winner Karim Benzema – now at Al-Ittihad – are among other headline names who have been nominated for the award, but there is no sign of five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist for the first time since 2003.
The 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.
Oliver Thomas
