Luis Figo Tips Haaland, Benzema for 2023 Ballon d’Or Award Ahead of Messi

• Luis Figo has named Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema as the best two players this season
• Figo believes the Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been better than Lionel Messi
• Messi was crowned the Sportsman of the Year at the 2023 Laureus Sports Awards this week

Lionel Messi may have won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but Luis Figo does not believe the Argentine superstar has been the best player of the 2022/23 season.

The former Portugal captain believes the superstar has actually had a poor season considering his struggles in the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain.

According to Sportskeeda, Figo has tipped Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Real Madrid forward, Karim Benzema for the 2023 Ballon d’Or ahead of Messi.

“Maybe [Erling] Haaland because he is having a great season, but [Karim] Benzema can still win it. I do not choose Messi because he is not in the Champions League, and for me, that is decisive.”

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Haaland has registered 51 goals and eight assists in 46 games for Man City this season, while Benzema recently captained Real Madrid to the Copa del Rey title.

Their two teams meet in the semi-finals of the Champions League tonight (May 9).

Messi' Saudi transfer is 'certain'

Meanwhile, Messi’s record move to Al-Hilal is reportedly a done deal, with the Argentine set to overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s highest-paid player, Goal reports.

The 35-year-old forward is reportedly set to sign a contract worth £400 million with the top Saudi Pro League club, ruling out a fairy-tale return to Barcelona in the summer.

Messi is said to have decided against renewing his Paris Saint-Germain deal and will thus leave the Ligue 1 giants as a free agent when his contract expires later this season.

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What Messi said to Lewandowski

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Messi's chat with Robert Lewandowski, who plays for his former team, at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony on Monday night.

The 35-year-old forward bagged the Sportsman of the Year award and also received the Team of the Year award after inspiring Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup.

However, Barcelona fans were more thrilled when a video online showed the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner engaged in a lengthy conversation with the Polish skipper.