'Haaland robbed': Fans fume after Argentina hero Lionel Messi beats Man City star to win 8th Ballon d'Or
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Oct 31, 2023, 7:01 AM ISTArgentina hero Lionel Messi clinched his record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or award at the 2023 ceremony in Paris, beating Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to the coveted prize.
Argentina hero Lionel Messi won his record-extending eighth Men's Ballon d'Or award at a glittering 2023 ceremony in Paris on Monday following an outstanding season that saw the legendary footballer lead his country to World Cup glory in Qatar last year. Prior to his move to Inter Miami in the summer, the 36-year-old orchestrated Argentina's win at the 2022 World Cup, netting two crucial goals during the final match and also scoring during a penalty shoot-out, securing victory over the 2018 champions, France. Additionally, he impressively scored 32 goals in 55 games across all competitions for PSG, significantly contributing to the team's attainment of the Ligue 1 title.
Messi is infinity! 8 Ballon d'Or! 🌕✨ pic.twitter.com/cSkLskDe4l
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor)Let's recap! pic.twitter.com/AFYBodAM6N
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor)The four-time Champions League winner triumphed over stiff competition, securing the first-place position, with Erling Haaland taking second, Kylian Mbappe in third, and Kevin De Bruyne ranking fourth.
Did Messi deserve his 8th Ballon d’Or? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hScoL6vg3C
— Backandforth (@backnforth_)Latest Videos
The decision to hand the award to Messi, following his win in 2021, wasn't without controversy, with some fans stating that the Argentinian 'robbed' Haaland of the Ballon d'Or 2023 trophy. Erling Haaland's incredible performance, with 52 goals in 53 games, was instrumental in Manchester City's triumph in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble.
Meanwhile, Messi's former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe, who was also a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or 2023 award, scored 41 goals as PSG retained the Ligue 1 title, even though France succumbed to Messi's Argentina in the World Cup final.
During the ceremony in Paris, Messi acknowledged these successors and emphasized that in the future, both players will have their opportunity to vie for the prestigious accolade in football. "This Ballon d’Or is a gift for all of Argentina. But, I don’t want to forget Haaland or Mbappe, who had a great year, spectacular, and in the coming years they will win this award," he said.
« Kylian Mbappé & Erling Haaland will win one day the Ballon d’Or »
💬 Leo Messi pic.twitter.com/UeQPkNxkUv
"The level never goes down, I’ve been lucky to be here for many years. I want to give special mention to all those people who were happy that Argentina were world champion. Thanks also to all my family, my wife, my children, for being there in the worst moments, and helping me to fulfil my dreams in football. Without you it would not have been possible," Messi added.
💬 The speech of the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/HRaNdRwclG
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor)Although Erling Haaland won the Gerd Muller 2023 trophy and Manchester City bagged the 'Best Team 2023' award, fans of the Premier League defending champions were miffed with Messi bagging the Ballon d'Or 2023 award once again.
A new one to add to the collection! 🏆 🤝 pic.twitter.com/t8lEwWfk74
— Manchester City (@ManCity)How to score more goals? 🎯
Erling Haaland will give you some tips! pic.twitter.com/3fQK5vm2q0
"The Muller trophy has only appeared 2 times. Once in 2021 when Messi robbed Lewandowski and now in 2023 when Messi robbed Haaland, it wasn’t present in 2022," said one angry user on X.
Another user noted, "Haaland deserved to win the ballon d'or. He, as everybody knows, has been a phenomenal player this year and been the best goalscorer in the world. So yes, I agree he's been robbed. The 4th time Messi has robbed a more worthy winner."
A third X user stated, "Even Messi says that Haaland deserves it more than him, he knows that Erling was robbed of this trophy."
Here's a look at some of the reactions of Manchester City and football fans who believe Haaland deserved to win Ballon d'Or 2023 award and not Messi:
“but but Messi robbed Haaland” 🥺 is inevitable || pic.twitter.com/rK7QVJoufk
— 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒙 (@AFCDrex)Messi winning Ballon d'Or over Haaland is like... pic.twitter.com/0EChFHnRfw
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball)The Muller trophy has only appeared 2 times.
Once in 2021 when Messi robbed Lewandowski and now in 2023 when Messi robbed Haaland, it wasn’t present in 2022. pic.twitter.com/Tkfb5bmurz
Messi robbed lewandowski
Messi robbed haaland
😂😂
Fury robbed ksi
Fury robbed ngannou
Messi is the furys of football😂😂😂
Again robbed this trophy ,if only WC trophy decide this award then whole WC squad of Argentina deserve this trophy.What messi has done last year nothing.. haaland win champions league, league title, FA CUP, league golden boots, champions league top scorer, European poty winner https://t.co/t8rl6DKjoM
— Akash ekke (@AkashEkke)You know it..😂
They can’t fool the world… We ALL KNOW Erling Haaland was robbed and Lionel Messi didn’t deserve the Ballon d’Or…💯 pic.twitter.com/ectlpnsIPM
ONE good outcome from Erling Haaland getting robbed by Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or is that we have unearthed some glory-hunter Man City fans…😭
I can’t believe my eyes…🙃
pic.twitter.com/XDBqHH7L9C
Even Messi says that Haaland deserves it more than him, he knows that Erling was robbed of this trophey ...
— Без-везе (@dancer_ot)Haaland getting robbed of Ballon d’Or by Messi
Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo: pic.twitter.com/pEUOks7YTG
haaland got robbed let’s make that clear. messi ain’t deserve this one.
— ★ (@guywithfreckles)Haaland was robbed of the balon d’or. Just because Messi has been the best player ever it’s like they’ve given him it as a retirement gift this year. He’s been nowhere near the levels of Haaland
— Sam (@HoovesInTheMud)Messi is the GOAT no doubt about it, but Haaland was robbed this year.
— David (@OpulentVidya)Haaland Robbed and FIFA continues to please Messi.
— Guru Leostan 🐋 (@guru_leostan)Erling Haaland joins the robbed by Lionel Messi crew pic.twitter.com/TakT5Y06Op
— 17 (@DxBruyneSZN)Add Haaland to the list of players Messi robbed.
Now we have 5/8 robbed Ballond'ors. pic.twitter.com/la79dg0qW5
Thierry Henry
Andres Iniesta
Robert Lewandowski TWICE
Erling Haaland
All absolutely robbed, devalues the award massively.
Messi won it for being good for 2 weeks out of the calander year… Kylian Mbappe was equally good at the tourney, better in the final. https://t.co/nooXQtBQk5
Correction: Lionel Messi has robbed some big names to win the Ballon d'Or in recent years 👀
2019: Virgil van Dijk 🥈
2021: Robert Lewandowski 🥈
2023: Erling Haaland 🥈 https://t.co/KKsIspVaJG
Messi and Haaland played in same UCL tournament. Messi crashed out in R16, Haaland won UCL ,top scoring.
Haaland team didn't qualify for Worldcup. So unfair to use that to judge Haaland.
Haaland got robbed unfairly.
Jude Bellingham knows Messi robbed haaland and he doesn’t deserve it . |Messi | Mbappe | Haaland | The Glazers | Robbed | Robbery https://t.co/whEOD9OOf5
— UTDSAINT (@UTDSAINT1)They really pulled the same thing they did with lewandoski . Messi robbed haaland. |Messi | Mbappe | Haaland | The Glazers | Robbed | Robbery https://t.co/LvDb1PJMqw
— UTDSAINT (@UTDSAINT1)As much as I love Messi, though Erling Haaland was robbed the Ballon D’Or
— Seanr (@_seanroy)
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