Manchester City star Erling Haaland has been told to boycott future Ballon d'Or ceremonies if Lionel Messi wins the award this year.
France Football released their 30 nominees on Thursday night, with Haaland being one of seven player's from the Citizens to be nominated after their incredible treble-winning season.
Read: Official: 2023 Ballon d'Or Nominees Announced
Messi is in line to win his eighth Ballon d'Or crown, with some reports claiming he is the favourite after guiding his nation to their third FIFA World Cup title.
However, former Chelsea star Craig Burley feels the award should be canned if Haaland does not walk away with the award next month.
"If Erling Haaland doesn't win this, close the shop," Burley told ESPN.
"Lionel Messi won the World Cup and it's a great achievement, but it's a four-week period. His general league form was not the best. PSG were terrible.
"Erling Haaland? Over 50 goals, a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League. Erling Haaland should win this award. I know that a lot of people out there can't get off the Messi bandwagon but look at the bigger picture.
"There's going to be a lot of muppet journos voting for Messi. The big picture here is that Erling Haaland achieved everything over a long period of time.
"This award, like a few awards, drives me nuts but he's the one that deserves it but I think out there it will be full of sentimental claptrap - Messi won the World Cup, Messi's this and Messi's that, and they will just hand him another one. And if I was Erling Haaland, I would never go back to another Ballon d'Or in my life, same as Robert Lewandowski."
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments
