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Lionel Messi will reportedly win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time.
The Argentina international is currently plying his trade for Inter Miami in MLS – he joined the club on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
According to Sport, Messi is now set to win another Ballon d’Or.
It has been claimed that the veteran will reclaim the award after missing out on it to Karim Benzema 12 months ago.
Erling Haaland has scored more goals than Lionel Messi but will not win the Ballon d’Or
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Messi’s excellent form for Argentina at last year’s World Cup has boosted his chances of securing another honour.
He was excellent in the Middle East, scoring five goals and providing three assists as his country progressed.
Messi has also scored 11 goals in his first 13 matches for Inter Miami.
However, only one of them has come into MLS – the forward has struggled in recent weeks.
The news of Messi’s impending victory is likely to anger Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Haaland moved to the Etihad Stadium from Borussia Dortmund in the 2022 summer transfer window.
And then he continued to shine for City last term as the club won the treble under Pep Guardiola.
Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 matches in all competitions, 36 of which came in the Premier League.
He has continued his talent this term too and has scored eight goals in 12 matches.
It is also believed that he is still adjusting to the new season, which does not bode well for defenders up and down the country.
One player who has not been nominated for the Ballon d’Or this year is Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portugal international has actually overtaken both Messi and Haaland by netting 40 times so far in 2023.
But with Ronaldo plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, he has now been ignored.
Ronaldo starred for Portugal on Monday night, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He now has 127 international goals to his name, with Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix also on target.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on October 30.
Messi is ready to take part, especially as he will reportedly claim the prize once again.
The 36-year-old won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 after leading Guardiola’s Barcelona to the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.
He would win the award three consecutive times before Ronaldo claimed it twice.
However, since then, Messi has added to his tally with wins in 2015, 2019 and 2021.
latest developments:
Cristiano Ronaldo has overtaken both Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland in 2023
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Since 2007, Benzema and Luka Modric are the only two players other than Messi or Ronaldo to have won the Ballon d’Or.
