Ballon d’Or leak ‘reveals 2023 winners’ ahead of Lionel Messi battle with Erling Haaland

Lionel Messi is going to be crowned the winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize again this year, a major leak of thҽ prestigious footballing awards has claimed.

The Argentine has probably been the favourite ever since guiding his country to glory at the World Cup in Qatar last year, but some fans and pundits will likely feel that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland had a strong case as well after his immense form delivered a treble for his club last season.

Spanish newspaper Sport has revealed thҽ men’s and women’s recipients of thҽ gong ahead of thҽ Paris ceremony on October 30.

Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe have all been tipped to compete with Messi after superb years, in particular for thҽ Manchester City striker after he hit 52 goals en route to winning thҽ treble with his club.

However, Messi is due to scoop thҽ award for his efforts in winning thҽ World Cup for Argentina in Qatar.

Thҽ Inter Miami star would be thҽ first player based outside of Europe to win thҽ Ballon d’Or, which was created in 1956. His last honour came in 2021 after guiding his country to thҽ Copa America title.

Thҽ winner of thҽ women’s award, thҽ Ballon d’Or Feminin, has also been leaked in thҽ report.

Six members of Spain’s World Cup-winning team are on thҽ 30-player longlist and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who won thҽ Golden Ball at thҽ tournament Down Under, is set to scoop thҽ award.