‘A very clear win’: Fabrizio Romano shares who is set to win the Ballon d’Or now – Erling Haaland or Leo Messi

World Cup champion Lionel Messi is set to win his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or ahead of Manchester City’s treble-winning striker Erling Haaland, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Recently, Pep Guardiola voiced his support for the Manchester City striker to win the award, after having scored 52 goals in 53 games in all competitions as he also lifted a historic treble.

However, the Spaniard also admitted that the World Cup winner would be a worthy awardee, considering the standards he sets season after season.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has indeed reported that Lionel Messi is set to trump Erling Haaland to win the eighth Ballon d’Or of his career.

“I told you, if you remember, Leo Messi’s plan for the next months. I told you Messi will be there in Paris. And I can tell you Messi will not be there just to see someone else win.”

“Messi is expected to be there with the Ballon d’Or in his hands because all the expectations and all the indications are very clear, waiting for official confirmation on Monday.”

“But on a very clear win for Leo Messi to be the Ballon d’Or winner, 2023.”

🚨✨ Leo Messi, expected to win the Ballon d’Or 2023.

Understand all the indications are set to be confirmed but Messi will be the final winner once again.

Official decision to be unveiled Monday night in Paris.

🇦🇷 It will be Messi’s historical 8th Ballon d’Or. pic.twitter.com/v8FWZQdeaR

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 25, 2023

While the Argentine’s storied World Cup win deserves applause, when considering the entire calendar year, Haaland outdid him by some distance as he emerged as the best player in the world.

Messi’s club campaign, on the other hand was top-drawer but was not even close to Haaland’s heroics, which would make this reported verdict a rather bizarre one.

Many critics have called out the favoritism of Messi as he built his candidacy almost entirely on his performance at the World Cup.

Footballer Michail Antonio stated it would be a “scandal” if Lionel Messi beats Erling Haaland to the 2023 Ballon d’Or.

“I understand Messi winning the World Cup is massive, but you can’t look past a treble-winning team and what Haaland bought to that, breaking records. He deserves that Ballon d’Or. If he doesn’t get it then it’s a scandal,” Antonio said on the Footballer’s Football Podcast.

Ultimately, Haaland has every right to feel sorry for himself if Lionel Messi does end up winning the Ballon d’Or over him as this will be ‘Historical robbery’.

Historical robbery pic.twitter.com/0VbSIJOSZb

— 3 (@MCFC_Prop) October 25, 2023