Perp Guardiola's comment about Messi resurfaces in Ballon d'OR battle
After outstanding individual seasons, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are poised to compete for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and Pep Guardiola’s remark about the trophy in 2021 has surfaced.
After leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was also awarded the competition’s best player, Messi is vying for his record-extending eighth award.
Haaland helped Manchester City win a historic European triple in his first season in English football. He also broke Premier League scoring records and won various trophies.
The Norwegian is likely to hit the podium for the first time this year on his third attempt, while the Argentine last claimed the honour in 2021.
The former Barcelona player is the favourites to receive the prized honour, according to Goal, after earning the lone trophy that had eluded him during his great career. However, supporters feel the Premier League striker is more deserving.
There was a huge uproar that former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski had been wronged after earning the sextuple in 2020 while Messi won in 2021. Following the disruption of the football schedule by COVID-19, the awards were postponed.
In 2021, Perp previously said:
“You can never say it is unfair Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d’Or,” Guardiola said.
