Inter legend Lothar Matthäus believes Erling Haaland deserved the Ballon d’Or more than Leo Messi: ‘It was a farce.’
The former Inter and Germany star, a Ballon d’Or winner in 1990, was not happy to see Messi win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time in his career on Monday.
“Haaland has done better than Messi for the entire year,” the 62-year-old told Sky Deutschland as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“This award is not deserved and it proves that the World Cup counts more than everything. To me, nobody was better than Haaland, he was the best in the last 12 months. He won important titles with Manchester City, setting a record for goals. It was a farce even if I’ve always been a Messi fan.”
Matthäus also won the Ballon d’Or after leading his country West Germany to win Italia 90. The former Nerazzurri star scored 53 goals in 153 appearances with the Nerazzurri between 1988 and 1992.
He won a Serie A title in 1988-89 and a UEFA Cup, now Europa League, in 1990-91.
Four Serie A stars made the top 30 at the 2023 Ballon d’Or: Nicolò Barella, Lautaro Martinez, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian forward became the highest-ranked Napoli and Nigerian player ever, finishing 8th.
Very well said. FIFA & UEFA will still crown Messi as Ballon d’Or winner even when he retires.
The world cup was fixed for Argentina and messi to win it enough said
Unfortunately, not this time around – Messi not deserving and has no predermined right to the award!! Credibility of the award is also gone.
Europe is not the world as the English Premier League is not the world. In a world Cup year that brings players from every continent and leagues, it matters. Does it concern you tha Haaland never played in this world Cup?
Some of the world’s all time gifted players have come from countries that would struggle to qualify for the World Cup finals, seems a shame that such a “criteria” for winning the award exists.
As amazing a player as Messi is, there are players head and shoulders above him who should have won. Yes, I sadly believe this is a marketing and advertising exercise and I no longer place any value in this award
I too cannot understand Erling Braut Halland winning the champions league for city as promised on arrival and all the goals golden boot best player of the year did not win! Mind blowing.
World Cup beats Champions League, that’s the fact most Europeans fail to understand.
Actually when someone doesn’t understand after that its up
to other people that they will help, so here it occurs.