After being on the MLS MVP shortlist only playing 5 games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists and now winning his 8th Ballon d'Or, it's pretty much confirmed that Messi has always had the best PR. It's honestly disrespectful that Haaland didn't win it. And this is coming from a guy who hates Manchester Shitty.
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Yeah. The moment Argentina won the World Cup, the Ballon d'Or was always Messi's.
I'd have given it to Haaland too, despite his punchable face. 52 goals in one season and a Treble in his first year in the league. What's a guy gotta do?
The answer is: play in Spain. Only six players have won the Ballon d'Or while playing in English football, and only two of them during the Premier League era*.
In contrast, La Liga: 23.
* - both of them went to Spain shortly afterwards.
The funny thing is that if trophies and the World Cup really matter, Julian Alvarez was on that Man City team that won the treble and he also won a World Cup with Argentina. But because his name isn't Lionel Messi, he didn't stand a chance.
shareIt's a fair point.
I also wonder if there's anyone left who believes international football is a higher standard than the Champions League...
But, yeah, the World Cup gave them an excuse to give him one more for old time's sake. Because, y'know, he didn't have enough of them already.
Would have been funnier if he hadn't won the World Cup and they had to twist themselves into knots to give it to a man who was playing in farmers' leagues for the last two or three years.
Haaland has no chance of winning the World Cup with Norway. Messi always had a chance winning with Argentina. Champions League should mean more because the best players will always play for the best teams and they all have a chance to compete. Also 13 games > 7 games.
shareYup. I entirely agree.