Ballon d’Or Contender Erling Haaland Gives 'Ice Cold' Response to 'Rivalry' With Kylian Mbappe

• Erling Haaland has offered insights into his relationship with Kylian Mbappe
• The Manchester City striker shared his perspective on their supposed rivalry
• The pair are among the 30 players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or award

Erling Haaland has responded to the idea of enacting a rivalry between himself and Kylian Mbappe, akin to the legendary tussles between Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi.

Haaland and Mbappe are often considered the current torchbearers of football and the heirs apparent to the Ronaldo-Messi 'greatest of all time' throne.

Both players have also been named in the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or awards, with the Manchester City striker aiming for his first global accolade after an exceptional campaign with the Premier League champions last season.

The Norwegian striker's proficiency in front of the goal helped inspire Pep Guardiola's team to a historic treble, making him a strong contender for the prestigious award alongside 2022 World Cup winner, Messi, per talkSPORT.

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Mbappe, on the other hand, also enjoyed a fruitful year under review, narrowly missing out on World Cup glory with France while helping PSG secure the Ligue 1 title, accumulating individual accolades along the way.

When asked about the potential rivalry between him and PSG's all-time top scorer in the years to come, Haaland stated he did not see the Frenchman as a rival, underlining the mutual respect between the two players during an interview with France Football.

"That's what everyone thinks," he reacted to the supposed rivalry, as quoted by Tribuna. "But you have to emphasise just how crazy the things Messi and Cristiano have done [are]."

Haaland also paid respect to both Messi and Ronaldo for continuing to achieve greatness even in the latter years of their respective careers, describing them as 'fantastic'.

"But I never talk about myself being against other players. It's not my way of seeing things. I focus on myself. I only try to be better every day, to continue enjoying what I do and being the best version of myself."

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Haaland vs Mbappe: Bayern star picks future GOAT

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Joshua Kimmich already knowing the heir to the GOAT throne between Mbappe and Haaland as the era of Messi and Ronaldo nears its end.

During a quickfire interview session recently, the Bayern Munich captain was posed with the question of selecting between the two strikers and already had a clear favourite.

Both these football icons - Haaland and Mbappe - have garnered numerous individual accolades and there is a genuine possibility they could claim the 2023 Ballon d'Or.