“Norwegian Head Coach Stuns with Remarkable Assertion About Ballon d’Or Front-Runner”
Even Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken, acknowledges that Erling Haaland may not be the front-runner to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award this year.
In an interview with VG, Solbakken candidly discussed the likely contenders for the Ballon d’Or, stating, “It [the Ballon d’Or] will most likely be between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling [Haaland]. Then there are also the outsiders just behind them.”
When pressed for his personal prediction, Solbakken leaned toward Lionel Messi, citing the impact of Messi’s World Cup triumph, remarking, “If you ask me who I think will win, I will say that Messi will win it because of the World Cup triumph. It always has an impact. Mbappe was there too.”
However, Solbakken did not undermine Haaland’s exceptional achievements over the past year. He acknowledged, “Erling, however, won top scorer accolades, broke records, and won the Player of the Year in every category in England, plus he won the Champions League.”
Messi indeed stands as the frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or, aiming to secure his eighth title. The 36-year-old Argentine star had a remarkable year, winning the World Cup and contributing significantly with goals for Paris Saint-Germain, along with clinching the Ligue 1 title.
On the other hand, Erling Haaland had a stellar season with Manchester City, securing the treble and shattering numerous goal-scoring records in the process.
As the anticipation builds, football fans around the world eagerly await the Ballon d’Or ceremony set to take place in October, where the ultimate winner will be revealed, sparking debates and discussions among fans and pundits alike.
