Wayne Rooney Tips Haaland to Beat Messi in the Battle for the 2023 Ballon d’Or

• Former Manchester United striker believes Erling Haaland deserves to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or award
• The Norwegian striker has been in red-hot form since joining the Cityzens from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £51.2 million
• Meanwhile, Haaland will have stiff competition from favourite Lionel Messi as well as Frenchman Kylian Mbappe

Wayne Rooney has thrown his weight behind Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or award ahead of Lionel Messi.

The legendary England and Manchester United forward believes Haaland deserves to win the coveted individual diadem more than Messi, who has been touted by many as favourite to win a record-extending eighth prize.

Messi's success at the 2022 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball award while inspiring Argentina to its first global title since 1986, placed him ahead of the rest of the pack however PSG's disappointing Champions League run could go a long way in affecting his chances of winning the top gong.

Video: How Lionel Messi reacted to Kylian Mbappe's unforgivable miss

Football

Meanwhile, Haaland's efficacy in front of goal, scoring 48 in 42 games across all competitions, gives him the slight edge ahead of the competitors and his chances could be enhances if Man City manages to complete the treble this season.

Weighing the competitor's for this year's Ballon d'Or, Rooney contends Haaland's numbers should merit a first position in the ranking ahead of Leo Messi, per Sportskeeda.

“If you’re looking at who is going to win the Ballon d’Or then it has got to be him, providing he keeps up his form of this season. And why wouldn’t he? A record of 224 goals in 264 games is the mark of a player whose standards don’t drop," he said as quoted by Givemesport.

Footage of Barca fans chanting Messi's name again during 10th minute of Girona game goes viral

Football

He added: “We’ve had the era of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, now this is his time, the era of Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. When there is a talent like him around you, just have to enjoy it — even if he is wearing a Manchester City shirt.

Messi leads Ballon d'Or rankings

The Ballon d'Or 2023 award is bound to attract a lot of debate, with no clear favourite for the accolade, Sports Brief reported.

Lionel Messi remains the front-runner to win a record eighth title when the ceremony goes down sometime in October this year. His World Cup heroics with Argentina have given him a perfect head start.

But Erling Haaland is in a strong-looking Manchester City squad gunning for a maiden Champions League title and could end up winning the gong for the first time.

Rooney calls Haaland new GOAT

Sports Brief also reported on Wayne Rooney identifying Erling Haaland as the heir apparent to the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo throne, suggesting the era of the GOAT duo has come to an end.

Barcelona star sends strong message to Lionel Messi about Camp Nou return

Football

Haaland has been on fire since swapping Borussia Dortmund for Manchester City, dwarfing virtually every goal-scoring record in England and, by extension Europe.

It thus comes as no surprise that Rooney reckons that Haaland is by far the best footballer on the planet presently.