According to reports, Argentina legend, Lionel Messi leads the race to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, ahead of Norway’s Erling Haaland and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe. The record 7-time winner could extend his tally of the most prestigious individual award in football to 8 at the end of the year, however, Man City superstar, Erling Haaland, who has had a treble-winning season for the English club this season is expected to be the only hurdle in Messi’s path.
Source: Reuters
Messi gets Closer to his 8th Ballon d’Or
Many fans feel that Messi winning the award is only a matter of time after he was named the best foreigner in Ligue 1 this season. The Argentina captain has 16 assists and as many goals in 2024. The talismanic Argentine joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2021 and won a string of domestic cups, including consecutive Ligue 1 titles but faced stern criticism from a section of PSG fans for being unable to help PSG to their maiden Champions League title.
In terms of individual numbers, however, both Haaland and Mbappe arguably had a better season than Messi, who signed for Inter Miami this month. Haaland has been in phenomenal goalscoring form as he managed to find the back of the net 56 times for club and country. His record-breaking debut season in the UK saw City win an incredible European treble with the Premier League, FA Cup, and the Uefa Champions League titles.
The 22-year-old Norway international broke the record for most goals scored in the Premier League with 36 goals. However, his goal-scoring tally could have been even better had he managed more than one goal in his last eight appearances for his club.
Source: MPL
World Cup Advantage for Messi
On the other hand, Messi’s former teammate, Kylian Mbappe, could have had the perfect season had France beaten Messi’s Argentina in the 2022 Fifa World Cup final in Qatar. Yet Mbappe dropped one of the most memorable World Cup performances by becoming only the second man, after Geoff Hurst, to score a hattrick in the final.
The Frenchman even converted from the spot during the tie-breaker but a heroic performance from Argentina goal-keeper Emiliano Martinez inspired them to the ultimate glory. The top scorer for PSG scored eight goals in Qatar, one more than Messi. However, with an early exit from the UCL and being only the runners-up in the World Cup, Mbappe might have to wait another year to get his hands on the Ballon d’Or.
Unlike the French superstar, the World Cup triumph could be the trump card for the 36-year-old Messi to win the individual prize this year. Messi has repeatedly stepped up whenever his nation was in trouble in the tournament with his signature moves and mercurial skills. The veteran scored seven times in the tournament, including two in the final to end Argentina’s 36-year wait for the trophy.
Messi also bagged the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player in the cup, becoming the only player to win it twice. Although Messi experienced a slump in form when the season resumed after the World Cup, his status as a World Cup winner will have scales heavily tipped in his favor to achieve his 3rd major individual award after already bagging the Fifa Best and Laureus Sportsman of the Year in 2024.
