Why Haaland won’t be Ballon d’Or

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By: Manu Tournoux

Why Haaland won't be Ballon d'Or

Second in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, Erling Haaland will not climb the final step that separates him from the supreme individual reward next year.

First runner-up to Lionel Messi on October 30 in Paris, Erling Haaland overtook Kylian Mbappé in the race for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, building on his hat-trick accomplished with Manchester City last season (Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League ). Counting among the new stars of football, the Norwegian does not intend to become Ballon d’Or in the very short term. And for good reason…

It is a disaster for Norwegian football but it is already certain that the Lovene (the Lions) will not play in Euro 2024 next summer in Germany. Third in their qualifying group behind Spain and Scotland, captain Martin Odegaard’s teammates will not go any higher and are therefore out of the running in these continental qualifiers. Worse still, 24e selection only in the 2023 Nations League rankings, Norway can officially no longer claim qualification via the play-offs.

A sacred Englishman or Frenchman?

At its level – League B – Norway is blocked by Israel, Bosnia, and a trio Finland-Ukraine-Iceland which will share the last two places available in this league and the last runner-up in League A with Poland, Wales and Estonia alongside him. Without participation in the Euro – therefore without the possibility of adding a major trophy to his list of achievements – Erling Haaland will certainly not be able to claim the golden sphere next fall. Among the qualified favorites and likely to have a great season with their respective clubs, we find on the other hand the English Harry Kane (Bayern) or Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) and of course the Blues Kylian Mbappé (PSG) and Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid).

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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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