2023-06-12 00:14:59
Around 11 p.m. in the Istanbul night, Erling Haaland realized his dream, which is why he was recruited by Manchester City. Missed out on his final and well muzzled by the Inter defense, the Norwegian nevertheless brandished his first Cup with big ears, with tears in his eyes, and immediately went to ask Thierry Henry for advice: “What do you think I should do to improve myself? “. No doubt he did not have in mind at that moment that he had a serious chance of being crowned Ballon d’Or of the season next October.
Because for his first season across the Channel, the former Dortmund player, bought 60 million euros this summer, panicked the counters, destroying records one by one: top scorer in the Premier League, most goals on a season in England (36), four hat-tricks, top scorer in the Champions League (12)… The steamroller of Manchester City left no chance to his opponents, but showed a slump during the spring deadlines , failing to score in the clashes against Real Madrid in the semi-finals and against Inter on Saturday night.
It may be that it can cost him dearly. Because in terms of the prize list, Erling Haaland achieved a historic treble, winning the Premier League, the Champions League, the first of the Cityzens, and the FA Cup. A raid that has already been carried out only by Manchester United (1999), FC Barcelona (2009, 2015), Inter (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013, 2021).
A duel with Lionel Messi?
It remains to be seen how much all this will weigh in the vote. Lionel Messi validated his career quest by winning the World Cup last December, while Erling Haaland and his Norway were not among the qualifiers in Qatar. Better still, he was voted the best player in the competition and scored a resounding double in the final to crown his nation, 37 years later. Which made him, before Haaland ended the season with a bang, the big favorite with Kylian Mbappé, who was also brilliant during the World Cup.
But the season of the new Inter Miami player has gray areas. Despite very good statistics (16 goals, 16 assists in Ligue 1) and a title of champion of France, the Argentinian did not manage to conquer the love of the Parc des Princes and ended his year under the whistles of the supporters. In the Champions League, PSG’s main objective, Lionel Messi did not necessarily shine and was kicked out by Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
Similarly, if he finished top scorer in the championship and also crowned champion of France, which is added to his hat-trick in the final in Doha, Kylian Mbappé suffers from the same Parisian ailments as Messi.
Everything will therefore depend on how the 170 voting journalists will analyze this season. As a reminder, the choice of the Ballon d’Or is now made in August, at the end of the sports year. Either, of course, at a time when the memories of spring are much closer in the minds than those of the beginning of winter.
Can you be Ballon d’Or without having played the World Cup?
Is the World Cup such a crucial event in the world of football that the best player of the winning team must necessarily be crowned Golden Ball in stride? Not so sure. The proof ? In 2018 (Modric despite the victory of France), in 2014 (Cristiano Ronaldo despite the victory of Germany), in 2010 (Messi despite the victory of Spain), the Ballon d’Or had not won not was crowned world champion.
And, conversely, can you be crowned Ballon d’Or without having been to the World Cup the same year? It happened only once, with the Englishman Kevin Keegan… In 1978. In short, it’s finally more open than we thought after Messi’s world title, and it’s already a little surprise.
For Bernardo Silva, interviewed by the newspaper l’Equipe before the Champions League final and teammate of Haaland, the seven-time Ballon d’Or remains the huge favorite: “Until now, we have to say Messi because he won the World Cup. Between Messi and the guy who wins the Champions League, you have three or four players who can win the Ballon d’Or. » Reply in October.
#Ballon #dOr #Manchester #Citys #hattrick #Haaland #favorite