Former Paris Saint-Germain winger, Jerome Rothen has claimed that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland deserved to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or over Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.
Rothen insisted that it was shameful that Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or over Haaland.
Recall that Messi was announced the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or in France earlier this week.
The Argentina captain beat Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe to take home the prize.
Speaking on RMC Sport, Rothen believes the Ballon d’Or lacks credibility after Messi won it over Haaland.
“That is shameful. Of course, that is shameful. For me, it was Haaland who should have had it. From August 2022 to June 2023, what are the criteria that lead us to say that Leo Messi is above the others? There is almost no criterion where he comes number 1. If you tell me about the record, he’s inferior to Haaland even though he won the World Cup,” Rothen said.
“Haaland won everything with Manchester City. The guy wins everything and puts in more than 60 goals in the year.
“When Messi and Ronaldo did it, it was quite normal that they were number one or two. Messi scored about 20 goals for the club last year while the other scored 60. And I am told that this Golden Ball must be given credibility? But there is no longer any credibility.”
