Erling Haaland Reflects on Losing Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi, Settles GOAT Debate

• Erling Haaland helped Manchester City to a historic treble last season
• Lionel Messi won the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina
• The Inter Miami star won both Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Award

Erling Haaland holds no grudges against Lionel Messi after missing out on two awards to the Inter Miami star despite his exploits in helping Manchester City win the treble.

Messi led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December 2022 and, as a result, won the 2023 Ballon d'Or and two Best awards for both years.

Fans on social media felt the Norwegian striker was robbed and should have won both awards in 2023, and till today, they continue to question the legitimacy of the awards.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was absent in London, where the 2023 award ceremony was held, and also failed to acknowledge it on his social media platforms, with fans claiming he knows he doesn't deserve it.

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Football

Haaland settles GOAT debate

Haaland, speaking in the press conference ahead of tomorrow's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Copenhagen, aired his thoughts on losing both awards.

“He [Messi] won the world cup, he's the best ever to do it, I don't know what to say,” the 23-year-old said via Ian Cheeseman.

“Lionel Messi is the best player that has ever played football. Maybe he has to retire for someone else to be regarded as the best,” he added.

These comments quench the reports by Diario AS that losing these awards to the former Barcelona man has pushed the Premier League striker to want to join Real Madrid as a matter of urgency.

The La Liga giants reportedly have a release clause of £86 million, which will become active in the summer of 2024, and the player believes it will give him the global appeal for such awards.

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Raiola stopped Haaland's Napoli move

Sports Brief reported on how Mino Raiola stopped Haaland's Napoli move despite an agreement before he joined Borussia Dortmund from RB Salzburg in 2020.

Aurelio De Laurentiis claimed he agreed to a fee with the Austrian club, but the late super agent warned him off the deal because he had planned the striker's future.