Naijahood
Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario has made his choice for this year’s Ballon d’Or winner, weighing the contest between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. In contention alongside these two are Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, making it a closely watched competition for football enthusiasts.
With the announcement of the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner just around the corner, Ronaldo firmly believes that Lionel Messi deserves the accolade, and his conviction is unshakable. Messi’s instrumental role in leading the Argentina national team to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar is cited as the decisive factor behind Ronaldo’s endorsement.
“The Ballon d’Or should go to him [Lionel Messi], without a doubt,” Ronaldo said (via TNT Sports).
“What Messi did in the World Cup was special. It reminded me of the campaigns of Pelé and Maradona.”
Apart from winning the World Cup, Messi also clinched the French Super Cup and Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.
The ex-Barcelona captain concluded the previous season with an impressive record, tallying 21 goals and providing 20 assists in 41 matches across various competitions while playing for PSG. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami as a free agent during the summer.
