2023 Ballon d'Or: Messi's Barber Drops Clearest Hint Inter Miami Ace is Set to Clinch the Award

• Lionel Messi is a clear frontrunner to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or award
• The Inter Miami ace helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
• Messi will be coming up against 29 other players who are nominated for the accolade

Lionel Messi's barber has dropped the clearest hint yet that the Inter Miami star is set to win the 2023 edition of the Ballon d'Or award.

The Argentine ace is a firm favourite to win the accolade for a record eighth time in his career after an impressive year under review.

Messi, who brought his illustrious European career to an end this summer, helped Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making him a clear front-runner for the award.

However, he is certain to face stiff competition from Manchester City hotshot, Erling Haaland, who had an equally incredible 2022/23 campaign.

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Thirty players have been nominated for the award, with 11 of them coming from the Premier League.

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Despite the apparent competition in the race to win the award ahead of Monday night's glitzy ceremony in Paris, several quarters have indicated that Messi is set to be crowned the winner.

According to talkSPORT, multiple leaks have claimed that the World Cup-winning captain is on his way back to the French capital to collect his award.

His barber has now hinted that this could be the case with his latest Instagram activity.

"Dropping the biggest @leomessi [GOAT] off ready for tomorrow. Special day where in the name of God he will win his golden ball number 8," Florida-based Luis Andres Rivera wrote on Instagram.

"Thank you Leo for always trusting in me and blessing me with making possibly the biggest cut of my career. WILL BE SEEN BY THE WORLD." he added.

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Haaland names one Messi attribute he wants

Sports Brief also reported on Erling Haaland’s take on a Lionel Messi attribute he wishes he possessed.

The former Paris Saint-Germain forward possesses the ability to beat opponents and has an eye for goals and passes. At the same time, the Premier League star is reputable for his positioning and goal-scoring.