Messi or Haaland: Inter Milan Icon Picks 2023 Ballon d’Or Winner

• Javier Zanetti has backed Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or award this year
• Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are also top contenders for the 2023 prize
• The winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or will be announced on October 30 in Paris

Javier Zanetti has backed Lionel Messi to beat Erling Haaland to the 2023 Ballon d’Or award, despite the Manchester City forward winning a treble in his first season in England.

The two superstars are certainly the top contenders for this year’s award, owing to their brilliant performances in the year under review with Argentina and Man City, respectively.

According to Sportskeeda, Zanetti believes Messi winning the World Cup with his country supersedes the other achievements and puts him in pole position to win an eighth Ballon d’Or crown.

"I think Messi deserves it because he managed to fulfil his dream of winning the World Cup as an absolute protagonist. In my opinion, he's been the best for several years."

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The veteran led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title, his country’s first since Diego Armando Maradona last won the title for La Albiceleste in 1986.

Di Maria lauds Messi partnership

Meanwhile, Angel di Maria has revealed that playing alongside his compatriot, Messi, has been the best thing that has happened in his glittering career, Daily Post reports.

The ex-Real Madrid star shared the pitch with the veteran both at a club level - with Paris Saint-Germain - and at an international level, where they won the 2022 World Cup.

While Messi will officially join Inter Miami in MLS once his contract expires this month, Di Maria could join Benfica after leaving Juventus as a free agent this summer.

Messi wins Ligue 1 award

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Argentine captain, Messi being adjudged 'best foreign player' in Ligue 1 for the 2022/23 campaign.

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The 36-year-old notched 16 league goals and provided 16 assists for Paris Saint-Germain in the French top flight division last term.

Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup midway through the season, aided PSG in winning the title before signing with Inter Miami in MLS.