Messi or Haaland? Guardiola answered the question of who he would vote for in the Ballon d’Or poll

According to foreign media reports, the next Ballon d’Or winner has been decided. It should go to Lionel Messi, who is expected to beat Erling Haaland. But who would Pep Guardiola vote for?

The announcement of the Ballon d’Or winner is slowly and surely approaching. The award ceremony will take place on 30 October and the biggest favourite is Lionel Messi. According to some foreign media, he has already received notification that he will win the award.

His biggest competitor for the most valuable individual trophy was and still is Erling Haaland, the attacking ace at Manchester City and another man who has improved under Pep Guardiola in just one year.

Haaland had previously shone in the jersey of Salzburg and Dortmund, but he has managed his first season in England beyond expectations. He helped win a treble, scored many goals. He set the bar very high.

But Messi managed to dominate the French league, shining at the World Cup, which he also won. He scored goals, he passed them on, he put in chances, he was seen in the biggest games and he was always the difference. He didn’t need basically anyone to do it.

That’s a major difference against Haaland. After all, this was also pointed out by coach Guardiola in the past, who even now faced the question of who he would vote for in the Ballon d’Or poll.

Messi or Haaland? Guardiola is clear

Pep Guardiola has a special relationship with all his charges. But Lionel Messi has a kind of privilege with him and the Citizens coach makes no secret of it. But now he has been put in an awkward position.

One of the journalists wanted him to answer the question of who he would vote for in the Ballon d’Or poll. “You are so funny,” Guardiola said rather ungratefully at the start of his answer.

“I have always said that the Ballon d’Or should be divided into two sections. One would be for Messi, the other for everyone else. Should Haaland win? Yes. He won the treble, scored about 50 goals. But Messi? His worst season by far is the best season for everyone else,” he allowed himself to be heard.

“They both deserve it. What more can I say?” guardiola added in conclusion.

Haaland is now 23 years old. He still has many years ahead of him. If he doesn’t win his first Ballon d’Or this year, he will have a chance in the years to come. Messi, however, at 36, is probably his last chance. But he will be hard to beat. Messi could win the eighth Ballon d’Or of his career.

Source: Goal, Transfermarkt