Messi Downplays Ballon d’Or Chances Ahead of Expected Battle vs Haaland

• Lionel Messi has revealed that he is not too focused on winning the Ballon d'Or this year
• His World Cup win with Argentina made him a favourite to win the eighth time in his career
• Messi will be up against Manchester City's Erling Haaland who won the continental treble

Lionel Messi has once again reiterated that his focus is not on winning the Ballon d'Or as the 2023 edition gets closer and closer.

The Argentine is the favourite to clinch a record-extending eighth title when the awards occur on October 30 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Messi led his country to their first World Cup title since 1986 in Qatar last year, which also saw him win the only trophy missing from his cabinet.

The win over France on post-match penalties saw him complete football as he topped it off with the Golden Ball award, as reported by Olympics.

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Haaland's Ballon d'Or chances

The 36-year-old is expected to get competition from Erling Haaland, who had a brilliant debut campaign with Manchester City. The Norwegian found the back of the net 52 times to guide Pep Guardiola's side to a historic continental treble.

Ordinarily, the 23-year-old would be a shoo-in for the award, but the staging of the World Cup in the middle of a season and Messi's exquisite performances complicate chances for him.

But as it turns out, the Argentine is not really looking forward to winning another title.

"It is a beautiful award, but I never gave the Ballon d’Or much 'importance'. For me, the collective trophies were much more important," Messi said in an Inter Miami press conference, as quoted by B/R Football.

"The World Cup was my biggest prize, now I am enjoying the moment, and honestly, I don’t think about it. If I win it, nice, and if I don’t, then nothing happens."

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The father of three has since moved to the Major League Soccer and settled in well at Inter Miami. He has nine goals in six appearances with a chance of winning silverware when they face Nashville FC in the League Cup final.

Ballon d'Or biggest 'robberies'

Sports Brief also reported on the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in the 'weird' month of December, sparking unprecedented debate ahead of the 2023 Ballon d'Or race.

The World Cup is often a strong indicator of who will win, with Messi believed to be leading the race for the coveted gong, yet Haaland has since immersed himself in the debate.

There is no doubt the 2023 race to the top individual prize in football will be a heated one, but what are some of the most controversial Ballon d'Or decisions in awards history?