Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that Argentina legend Lionel Messi should win the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place on October 30 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Messi has been widely tipped to win the upcoming Ballon d’Or in Norway’s Erling Haaland who scored 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City while also winning the treble of the UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
Kylian Mbappe is the other strong contender for the award after winning the French Ligue 1 golden boot, the FIFA World Cup golden, the FIFA World Cup silver medal with France and the French League with Paris Saint-Germain.
Some reports have even suggested that Messi has been informed that he has won the award.
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Messi had a stellar 2022/23 season in which he won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in which he was adjudged the best player of the tournament after scoring seven goals and making three assists in the competition.
He also won the French Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain, he scored 20 goals and provided 16 assists in 40 games across all competitions for the French giants.
Speaking on talkSPORT as quoted by sportskeeda.com, Agbonlahor said Messi deserves the accolade.
“You have to give it Messi though, you have to” Agbonlahor said.
“Winning the World Cup (in which) he was outstanding. I was at the Mexico game, and I’ve never felt adrenaline like it. The love he had from the Argentine fans like a god on the pitch.
“Even that game though against Mexico, you felt like he was tired, and then he picked up his left boot, bang, bottom corner. He is like it was always in his mind that he was gonna drag this team to win the World Cup.
“And he has to win the Ballon d’Or. He’ll be unlucky (Haaland). But his (chance) will come (next year), I could imagine. But when you win the World Cup and how well Messi played in that World Cup was amazing.”
The Ballon d’Or was established in 1956 with Englishman Stanley Matthews winning the first award.
Messi has already won the Ballon d’Or seven times previously (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021).
Messi joined MLS team Inter Miami over the summer and he dragged them to their first ever title the Leagues Cup in the process.
He has scored 11 goals and registered five assists in 13 games across all competitions for the Miami based side.
