Pep says ‘a million goals’ not enough for Haaland as Man City boss laughs off Ballon d’Or chance
Erling Haaland “scored a million goals” in a treble-winning season for Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola has laughed off the striker’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Haaland scored an absurd 52 goals in 52 games for City in his debut season last term, helping Guardiola’s side to win the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
The Norwegian striker swept all competition aside in England to claim mutliple individual awards, and is in the running to win the Ballon d’Or, which will be voted for at the end of the month.
But his very own manager has laughed at the prospect of him winning it, insisting the only way the 23-year-old could claim the gong would be if there was a separate award for Lionel Messi.
“HAHAHA, you’re so funny,” said when asked whether Haaland had a chance. “Always I said the Ballon d’Or should be two sections. One for Messi, then after another one so Haaland should win yes.
“We won the treble, he scored a million goals. The worst season for Messi is the best for the rest of the players. Both deserve it.
“Realistically I want Haaland to have it cause he helped us achieve what we achieved, I would love it. But Messi won the World Cup. It’s good players here are up for the award, it makes us so proud.”
Haaland is joined on the shortlist by City teammates Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Julian Alvarez and Rodri.
Messi would take his Ballon d’Or tally to eight should he claim the prize, which – as Guardiola says – he surely will having starred for and captained Argentina to their first World Cup in 36 years.
The winners will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which will take place on 30 October at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
READ MORE: Who will win the Ballon d’Or in 2023? Not Haaland as Messi is massive odds-on favourite
Full list of men’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
André Onana – Manchester United/Cameroon
Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City/Croatia
Karim Benzema – Al Ittihad
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich/Germany
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool/Egypt
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
Randal Kolo Muani – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City/Belgium
Bernardo Silva – Manchester City/Portugal
Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Napoli/Georgia
Rúben Dias – Manchester City/Portugal
Nicolo Barella – Inter Milan/Italy
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Yassine Bounou – Al Hilal/Morocco
Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal/Norway
Julián Álvarez – Manchester City/Argentina
Ilkay Gündogan – Barcelona/Germany
Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid/Brazil
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Rodri – Manchester City/Spain
Lautaro Martínez – Inter Milan/Argentina
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid/France
Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona/Poland
Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kim Min-jae – Napoli/South Korea
Victor Osimhen – Napoli/Nigeria
Luka Modric – Real Madrid/Croatia
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England
