Erling Haaland has revealed that he has a chance to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or award ahead of World Cup champion Lionel Messi.
Haaland, 23, signed for the Etihad outfit last season after City paid £51.2 million release clause to Borussia Dortmund to land him.
The Norwegian enjoyed an outstanding first season in the Premier League, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 matches in all competitions for the Cityzens.
The former Dortmund man did not just achieve individual feat, he also helped Manchester City win a historic Treble with the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Erling Haaland has begun the new season where he left off with a prolific start for Manchester City. He has scored 6 goals in 4 matches, helping the club to a perfect start to the season.
UEFA handed out its annual individual prize to celebrate achievements from the 2022/23 season, following the conclusion of the 23/24 men’s Champions League group stage draw.
Lionel Messi was again on the list for the men’s award, aiming to pull level with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo by clinching the award for the third time.
The former PSG man was on the list due to his heroics after he led Argentina to World Cup glory and won the Ligue 1 title with PSG before joining Inter Miami.
However, Erling Haaland beat Messi and Kevin De Bruyne to the 2023 UEFA Award best player award.
Haaland is among several nominees from the Premier League and Manchester City who were named on the shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
His teammates Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Julian Alvarez, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol are on the shortlist for the award.
Karim Benzema won the 2022 edition of the award with Real Madrid before he signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad in the summer.
Erling Haaland is one of the favorites to win the coveted award after an incredible debut season with Treble winners Manchester City.
The former Dortmund attacker stands a great chance to win the award which the winner will be announced at the end of October 2023.
The young striker is confident that he has a chance to the award but still reckoned that he still has more years ahead of him.
Haaland, in an interview with France Football, said: “I know I can still improve a great deal, I’m still young. But yes, I believe I have a chance this year.”
“I’d like people to remember me as a special player, in the way I play. This is what I’m trying to do every week: show special stuff,” Erling Haaland concluded.
Do you think that Erling Haaland is right to believe that he is a favorite to win the coveted award?
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