Haaland's stats dominate but still loses to Messi in individual awards. Why?

Janak9955

In a recent development, Messi's victory over Haaland for the 2023 Ballon d'Or has surprised many, even prompting Cristiano Ronaldo to comment on the diminishing prestige of the award. Simultaneously, there are revelations that Haaland and his team have recognized the importance of the platform. Despite Haaland's undeniable prowess, the lack of a suitable platform hinders him from obtaining significant individual honors.

According to the Spanish media outlet AS, "Haaland and his management team are contemplating the necessity of joining Real Madrid." Haaland's loss to Messi in the Ballon d'Or is not attributed to his skill set. In terms of awards, honors, and personal statistics in 2023, Haaland unquestionably outperformed Messi. However, AS suggests that the reason for Haaland's inability to secure the award despite such dominance is the inadequacy of the platform. The report indicates that if Haaland were to join Real Madrid, the Ballon d'Or would likely be within his grasp.

Over the past decade, Ballon d'Or winners have primarily emerged from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Despite the current dominance of the English Premier League, the last Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year winners from the league date back to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 during his time with Manchester United. In terms of platform influence, Real Madrid and Barcelona have been unrivaled. With Real Madrid in need of a striker, Haaland's potential move could result in a dual triumph, achieving both team success and individual recognition.

While AS is a Spanish media outlet with an inherent bias towards Spanish teams, objectively speaking, Real Madrid is undoubtedly one of the world's top football clubs. If Haaland were to leave Manchester City, it would likely be to pursue higher individual honors, as he has already secured nearly all team-related accolades available at Manchester City. Seeking unattained individual honors in the next phase of his career is a natural progression.

Shri

Messi's era is not over yet, and there is currently no one capable of replacing him!

Kamal531

In fact, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year isn't a big deal. The most crucial thing is that if you consistently win championships in the following seasons, that would be more promising.

Samiksha

In the end, it's all about UEFA for public opinion, for creating legends. Anyway, Haaland is still young, they can 'bully' him a bit.

Ritu13

Haaland hasn't experienced as much as Messi, I guess! Messi has participated in matches of all sizes, has a large fan base... Haaland still has to address Messi as a senior, after all.

Kalkin995

The Ballon d'Or is voted on by professional football journalists, making it one of the most prestigious individual awards in the football world. On the other hand, the FIFA Best Men's Player award, often referred to as the World Player of the Year, is determined by the votes of national team captains and coaches. Generally, professional football journalists are expected to be more objective in their assessments, while players and coaches may have personal preferences.

In the case of Erling Haaland not winning the FIFA Best Men's Player award, it is suggested that he may have faced disadvantages in the voting process. Lionel Messi, who won the award in 2022 after leading Argentina to the World Cup title, carried significant influence due to his established status as a football icon. Even if Messi's performance in a given year may not be as outstanding as Haaland's, his reputation and popularity could still garner votes from admirers, including Messi's fans and players from weaker national teams who may not be familiar with Haaland.

Additionally, the notion that FIFA may want to create a certain narrative or elevate a player to a mythical status might influence the voting process. The absence of Messi at the awards ceremony and Cristiano Ronaldo's comments about the diminishing prestige of the award may suggest a lack of acknowledgment or acceptance of the FIFA Best Men's Player award by some top players.

In conclusion, Haaland might not need to be upset about not winning the award this year, especially considering the influence of external factors such as tournaments like the UEFA Euro. The remarks made by Cristiano Ronaldo might also reflect a growing sentiment that the FIFA Best Men's Player award has lost some of its significance.