Man City star snubs Erling Haaland and picks Lionel Messi for Ballon d'Or instead

Lionel Messi has been tipped to win this year's Ballon d'Or by Manchester City midfield Rodri despite the goals scored by teammate Erling Haaland.

Haaland scored 52 goals in a breathtaking debut season for City, helping them to a historic treble win.

He shattered records aplenty after joining from Borussia Dortmund and his season finished with Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League winners' medals.

Rodri was the man who scored the goal to deliver City's first Champions League against Inter Milan in Istanbul.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder will likely be in the top ten after a stunning season but he doesn't believe Haaland will scoop the gong.

As per El Partidazo de COPE, Rodri said: "Who’s going to win the Ballon d’Or. For me, I think Lionel Messi is going to win it.”

Image: Getty

Spanish outlet SPORT have already claimed that Messi will scoop the gong for the eighth time after finally winning the World Cup with Argentina.

The winner will be announced at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30 in a ceremony hosted by Didier Drogba.

Messi is in line to make history in becoming the first player outside of Europe to win the award, following on from his switch to MLS side Inter Miami in the summer.

Image: Getty

The 36-year-old is the clear favourite after a glittering World Cup tournament where he bagged seven goals and won the Golden Ball.

As good a year as Haaland had, even his Norway coach Stale Solbakken doesn't think he will win.

In September, he explained to Norwegian outlet VG: "If you ask me who I think will win, I will say Messi will win it thanks to his World Cup triumph. It still has an impact."

Messi, meanwhile, is not too fussed over what the outcome is - with seven already in his impressive collection.

On the award, he commented: “If it arrives, good, and if not, nothing happens. I was lucky to achieve all my goals in my career and now I have new goals with this club."

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 HERE for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Topics: Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Ballon d'Or, Rodri

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@joshlawless_