Ronaldo Makes Bold Prediction for 2023 Ballon d'Or: 'He Will Be Crowned' - Messi or Haaland?

With the highly anticipated 67th annual Ballon d'Or ceremony just around the corner, all eyes are on Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland as the top contenders. Scheduled for October 30, the nominees will be unveiled on September 6. Reigning champion Karim Benzema is unlikely to retain the prestigious title. While Messi's long-standing rival Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the picture, Ronaldo Nazario, a two-time Golden Ball winner, shared his predictions. In an interview with Albiceleste Talk, the Brazilian legend declared, "Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or. I think he will be crowned. He won the World Cup, which is a very big tournament."

Messi, who recently departed PSG and joined MLS side Inter Miami, led Argentina to World Cup glory, securing the prestigious title last year. He displayed remarkable form throughout the tournament, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in seven appearances. Despite narrowly missing out on the Golden Boot, Messi's exceptional performance earned him the title of the tournament's best player. His contributions propelled Argentina to victory in a thrilling final against France.

On the other hand, Haaland, although unable to participate in the World Cup due to Norway's failure to qualify, achieved remarkable success with Manchester City. The Norwegian striker played a pivotal role in City's triumphant campaign, securing the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles. Haaland claimed the Premier League Golden Boot with a phenomenal 36 goals in 35 matches, and he also emerged as the top scorer in the Champions League, netting an impressive 12 goals in 11 games.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony, all eyes remain on Messi and Haaland, with the football world eagerly awaiting the announcement of the deserving winner.