Messi and Haaland Both Deserve Ballon d’Or, Says Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi both deserve the Ballon d’Or, with Haaland’s 52 goals contributing to Manchester City’s treble-winning season, while Messi’s remarkable talent led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.

Guardiola suggested having two separate Ballon d’Or sections, one for Messi and one for the rest, emphasizing that both players merit the award.

While he acknowledged a personal desire for Haaland to win due to his contributions to City’s success, he also expressed that it would not be unfair if Messi claimed the honour.

Guardiola’s Manchester City is aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League after two consecutive losses before the international break, facing a challenging test against Brighton. Guardiola commended Brighton’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, for elevating the club’s performance.

The City midfielder, Kalvin Phillips, who has seen limited game time, admitted the need to play more at the club level to secure his place in the England squad for Euro 2024, fueling speculation about a possible transfer in January.

Guardiola did not rule out the possibility, stating that Phillips would remain with the team until winter, and the future beyond that remains uncertain.

Guardiola highlighted the importance of Rodri’s return after the influential midfielder’s suspension. Rodri was banned for three matches following an altercation with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. Guardiola emphasized the need for players to control their emotions and expressed confidence that Rodri would learn from the experience.

Source: AFP