Ballon d'Or 2023 | Haaland finishes 2nd

[avoidconfusion]

Feel sorry for Haarland - this was always going to go to Messi. Would not be surprised if they find a way to give it to him again next year. Shambolic decision but completely predictable

 

[BlueAnorak]

A double whammy for Haaland as he plays for Manchester City in England. The wrong club in the wrong Country.
Apparantly a world star winning the World Cup is all that counts, Indeed, for once, he wasn't even Argentina's best player! Alvarez, Mcaliister and Martinez were better. Indeed during the year/season Messi's club form for PSG in the French Farmers League was very poor.
Permenantly bad news for Haaland as he plays for Norway. Same for anyone else who plays for a country with a small chance of winning the World Cup.

 

[Coatigan]

Basically Messi got the award just for the World Cup final where he scored a penalty. Argentina had an easy group with Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland (they lost to Saudi!). Then they played Australia, a very poor Holland team, Croatia, and France in the final. The quality of football in the WC does not compare to the top end of La Liga, the PL, or the CL. Giving Messi the award this season is absurd.

On the plus side however, had he lost the WC final, the award would have gone to Mbappe over Haaland. Which would have been an even bigger farce.

 

[wolviedinho]

Overall the club received a lot of recognition so it wasn’t a total shambles.

Eddie and Haaland can both feel hard done by but if they keep up the high levels then it will happen. Bit shit for the players but very good global awareness for the good things about city.

Not bad for a small club with no history -:)

 

[decmancity]

On the plus side howevee, had he lost the WC final, tge award would have gone to Mbappe over Haaland. Which would have been an even bigger farce.

That is the one crumb of comfort I have. At least it wasnt Mbappe.

Now Messi is out of the way, we need the big fella (Haaland) to take this trophy next year. Another treble would do.

 

[BlueMoonday]

He's one of those YouTube "Personalities." The fact he was at such an event is everything that's wrong with modern football. They invited him purely because he's got lots of kids who think he's funny so they hope by doing so they'll create more fans and revenue. It's all about the money.

Let's hope the club don't invite him to any games. It's bad enough with that w*nker Thogden.

 

[Johnny_Crossan]

Let's hope the club don't invite him to any games. It's bad enough with that w*nker Thogden.

I believe this Speed character was at Wembley last season winding up City fans. I’d hope the club don’t go anywhere near him!

 

[normskih]

I believe this Speed character was at Wembley last season winding up City fans. I’d hope the club don’t go anywhere near him!

The only Speed that should ever be mentioned when it comes to football should be Gary Speed.

 

[LongsightM13]

I dont how the fuck you win this award for having 4 good weeks of football, how anyone could say he had a better season than Haaland is fucking absurd.

Martinez over Ederson was an even worse decision imo.

 

[Crooked_rain]

They might as well not give awards at the end of the World Cup and just wait until the Ballon d'Or.

I was always under the impression it was for the body of work for the year but I guess not.

The most undeserving award Messi got was player of the tournament in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, even he looked embarrassed to be picking it up.