• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Three future Ballon d'Or winners named alongside Lionel Messi as Cristiano Ronaldo told his era is over

Home> Football> Football News

Published 21:17 30 Oct 2023 GMT

Three future Ballon d'Or winners named alongside Lionel Messi as Cristiano Ronaldo told his era is over

He named three future winners.

Chris Byfield

Chris Byfield

A journalist has named three future Ballon d’Or winners while claiming Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence at the top of the game is over.

Lionel Messi has been tipped to win his eighth Ballon d’Or at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France on Monday evening.

The Argentina star captained his nation to their first World Cup triumph since 1986 in Qatar, netting seven times in seven games and being named player of the tournament.

Advert

While Messi is the favourite to win the award, Erling Haaland has also made a good case to claim the title. The Norwegian scored 52 goals in all competitions as Manchester City claimed a historic treble last season.

Moreover, five-time winner Ronaldo was not included on the 30-man shortlist for the first time since 2003.

And ahead of this evening’s ceremony journalist Guillem Balague claimed that this year signalled the end of Ronaldo’s influence at the top of the game.

Balague also picked Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland as future winners of the tournament.

Speaking on CBS the journalist said: “There is a touch of glamour related to the Ballon d’Or. How do you decide who is the best?

Advert

“Yes. Individual statistics help but there is something more about Messi that for as long as he gives us so much pleasure and wins I think he should be there or thereabouts.

“Imagine for a second that he wins the MLS next season, becomes the best player in the MLS and wins the Copa America, what are the chances of him winning or almost winning the Ballon d’Or?

“This is not over yet. The era of Messi and Ronaldo is over, yes. The era of Bellingham, Mbappé, Haaland and Messi has just started."

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Football, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland

Chris Byfield
Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Lionel Messi gives rare insight into his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has made his feelings clear on Lionel Messi as Inter Miami star makes 'not friends' comment
  • Every player who would've won the Ballon d'Or if Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo never existed
  • Every player Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo voted for in FIFA Best and Ballon d'Or awards since 2010

Choose your content:

20 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 20 mins ago

    Lyon RELEGATED to Ligue 2 as official statement released

    The seven-time Ligue 1 winners have been relegated to the French second division.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Crystal Palace still face being kicked out of Europa League as new 'rules breach' bombshell dropped

    The FA Cup winners are facing a potential ban from the Europa League this season, despite John Textor selling his shares.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Bradley Barcola has opened door for Arsenal transfer as club 'hijack rival bid for PSG star'

    The PSG winger may be open to a massive move to the Premier League this summer.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Gary Lineker hasn't spoken to fellow sports presenter for 10 years after huge feud over 'stolen job' at the BBC

    Lineker left the BBC in May after 26 years anchoring Match of the Day

    Football