After winning his record-extending Ballon d’Or on Monday night, Argentine star Lionel Messi said both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will “one day” win the prestigious award.
Messi was awarded his 8th Ballon d’Or in Paris following his 2022 FIFA World Cup victory with Argentina in Qatar.
The former Barcelona and PSG forward shared a message with his competitors, Erling Haaland and Mbappe, who finished second and third, respectively, at the awards ceremony.
“Haaland and Mbappe will win the Ballon d’Or one day,” he said in his acceptance speech at the Ballon d’Or Award ceremony.
Messi also said Haaland could have been a deserving winner this year after an explosive season with Manchester City.
“Erling deserved it very much too. He has won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League while being the top scorer of everything. This award could have been yours today too,” said Messi.
Haaland scored 52 goals during the 2022–2023 season for the Citizens, helping them win the treble for the first time in the club’s history.
The former Borussia Dortmund hitman was also the top scorer in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
His goal-scoring prowess saw him win the Gerd Muller Award, an accolade that recognizes the outstanding striker of the past season.
READ MORE: List of all Ballon d’Or winners as Messi wins it for the eighth time
For Mbappe, who finished in third place, he scored 55 goals for club and country, won the World Cup Golden Boot, and lifted the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.
