Ballon d’Or: The controversial vote of the Argentine journalist

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By: Manu Tournoux

Ballon d'Or: The controversial vote of the Argentine journalist

The Argentine representative for the Ballon d’Or ballot placed four 2022 world champions in his Top 5, and completely ignored Erling Haaland.

This is the traditional meeting which quickly follows the result of the Ballon d’Or: the publication of the latest issue of France Football, where we can study the details of the journalists’ votes. For this 2023 edition, the verdict is quite clear. Even if the election of Lionel Messi has been discussed, it remains rather clear in reality.

The Argentinian thus collected 462 points, and won with a significant margin over Erling Haaland, who obtained 357 points. Kylian Mbappé is a solid third with 270 points. The other contenders are relegated quite far, followed by Kevin De Bruyne (100 pts), Rodri (57 pts) and Vinicius Jr (49 pts). In terms of the first places, Messi is also popular since he comes first in the votes of 65 journalists, out of the 100 on the panel. Erling Haaland is placed in first position 21 times.

Argentina sulks Haaland

Nothing to say, then? There are always things to observe, and certain votes clearly show the element of subjectivity in this election. Some choices are strategic, and how can we not think of the Argentine journalist who did not award a single point to Erling Haaland. Its Top 5 is made up of 80% players from Argentina. Messi of course comes first, ahead of Alvarez, the man who won everything in 2022-2023. Kylian Mbappé is the only “intruder”, obviously because he left his mark on Argentinian minds with his hat-trick in the World Cup final.

Next came Emiliano Martinez, the national hero, and Lautaro Martinez, who was just a luxury wild card with Argentina in the World Cup, and had only a limited impact. But the Champions League final contested by Inter Milan undoubtedly earned it this little point offered by the Argentine voter, Enrique “Quique” Wolff”, an ESPN journalist.

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Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.

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