Start of the season: He'll be lucky to score 15 End: Give him the Ballon'dor

If Harry Kane had carried England to a World Cup win I 100% guarantee Rory would be saying he has to win the Ballon d'Or.

Problem with Ronaldo fans is that they forgot Ronaldo won it in 2013 when Ribery had won the treble

r9 finished the 2002 season wih less than 10 goals and injured for half the season, plays amazing at the wc and wins the balon d'or, cannavaro gets relegated with juventus in 2006 plays amazing at the wcc and wins the balon d'or, CR7 was best player for madrid in 2018 but modric plays amazing at wc and wins balon d'or. i think we're completely underestimating the power of an amazing wc performance when it comes to determining the balon d'or winner.

Rodri is actually a great shout. Just because he isn't an attacker doesn't mean he doesn't win games for his team. His consistency along with his crucial goals is amazing. I didn't watch Messi play at all this year so I have no idea if he performed better than KDB, Rodri or Haaland, but those 3 have to be in the top 4 for ballon'd'or.

Messi has 41 goals and 26 assist at the age of 36.That is incredible

I think a lot of people who are hating on Messi getting even nominated, definitely didn't watch the French League last season. His playmaking last season was UNREAL for PSG, and not just in terms of assist, but in just pure amazing balls and chance creation, the amount of amazing through balls he played to his strikers which DIDN'T get scored isn't shown in his just 16 assists or whatever it was. He played genuinely amazing in 9 out of every 10 games he played for PSG. And of course the World Cup's history of influence into the Ballon d'Or is unmatched, and yes I'm aware World Cup winners/ performers didn't always get the award during the CR7 x Messi era, however in the LONG, LONG history of football World Cup winners almost always get preference. I feel like a lot of people, underestimate the sheer size and pressure of the WC, every great player LOVES it and the pressure to perform is immense. He did so outrageously well in every aspect on the biggest stage. I wouldn't be mad if Haaland wins it though, as he's had an unreal season, which people are underappreciating due to Messi and Cristianos numbers within the last 10 years or so

Banter and Jokes aside, Buvey actually has the best ball knowledge on the Club

The World Cup is the greatest achievement in football. It automatically carries the most weight especially as Messi was a stand-out and key player in taking Argentina to the final and winning it. He was clutch in big games and in the final. Whereas Haaland, although being a finisher and scoring a record number of goals in the Premier League - it can be argued was largely due to the fantastic supply of those around him at Manchester City. In finals where City was en route to the treble, Haaland went missing in big games and wasn't clutch. In comparison with the World Cup, Messi was, and has been many times over in his career. Messi also does more all-around as a player in terms of team contribution.

cant believe rory unironically said "messi couldn't do it in the prem" lol

Ballondor isn’t about stats it’s about football. Messi played the best football this year simple as that!

I think Messi has a solid case to win the balon d’or. There hasn’t been a player that has outshined him beyond haaland. The thing with haaland is that he is the best goal scorer but beyond that his game isn’t transcendental. Not to take anything away from him because he is an unbelievable striker but Messi at this level he still has is better then 97% of players. Messi had an unbelievable World Cup and there isn’t another player who is just leagues ahead of him as a player (when people say inestia, ribery etc should have won one all I can say is at the end of the day Ronaldo and Messi were still the 2 best players and it wasn’t close).

Rory talking about who carried a team whilst ignoring Messi carried Argentina to that World Cup. Yes other players did well, but Argentina were not the best team there and Messi spearheaded them to the biggest trophy in football

If it’s so easy why hasn’t England with the players from the best league in the world not won in 60 years? Take Haaland out of city and what do you get? A team that won 4/5 PL, played in semis and finals of CL. Take Messi out of Argentina and the won’t even qualify for the World Cup let alone win it. Messi will win the ballon d’or and it will be deserved. Usually the ballon d’or is decided by the WC, just because the WC was in the middle of the season and not at the end as it usually is don’t let that sway you Rory.. the importance is the same.

Messi would be top 3 in the Prem. How can Rory even think he has any credibility to even try to debate when he said Haaland would flop and score less than 15 goals

Honestly give it to Rodri 😅 what a beast

Messi was scoring the same type of goals in La Liga and France ,he's elite

Winner should be Messi. Anyone who disagrees is either biased or should brush up on their football knowledge. I wouldn't even have Haaland 2nd to be fair (Buvey is completely right about Rodri). All 'general' statistic point in Messi's favour. You can't JUST compare goals, since Messi is much more of a playmaker than an attacker. So we have to use 'general'/fair metric applicable to both players here. The ballon voting period is from augusts 1st 2022 till july 31st 2023, in that time: - Messi had more g/a than Haaland (in less games by the way) - Messi obviously dominates in any other aspect of football (like passing, dribbling stats). In fact, Messi actually outperformed De Bruyne when it comes to playmaking. - Messi had more motm awards than Haaland - Messi had a higher average matchrating than Haaland - Messi didn't dissapear in many big games, like Haaland did. - Messi won the world cup, which has always held high value when it comes to ballon d'or rankings. Obviously football can't fully be put into stats. The 'eyetest' is also very important. However I can't explain my argument using 'the eyetest'. If anything, the eyetest tells you Messi is better aswell.

how can rory say its haaland when hes not even the best player in his own team?

Leo Messi is still top 3 players in the world even at his age. To say he couldn't do it in the prem is the hight of arrogance. The best player of all time and its not even close

It’s a toss up but the difference is haaland is playing in the best team in the world and went missing in all the finals he was involved in, Messi single handedly dragged Argentina to the World Cup instrumental in every single game along the way

Top 3 most goal contribution in Europe last season at 35 also WC Pott, 2nd top scorer whereas haaland has ghosted almost every single big game he played last season whether it's UCL or domestic cups

Answer: Messi. Messi now has 8 Balon d'Ors 2009: Deserved 2010: Sneijder 2011: Deserved 2012: Deserved 2015: Deserved 2019: Van Dijk 2021: Lewandowski 2023: Håland #TruthBeTold

Buveys right tbh, Messi maybe not top 3 but definitely would handle it even now in the prem. he’s lost the fitness and speed but his feet are just unreal. He would still be a top player for any top6 side

I do agree that it’s not just about numbers, it’s almost symbolic as Buvey said. It symbolises the best player in the world at that time. On that basis it’s Messi, it will be his last but he is still the best player in the world. Haaland will win many in the future, no doubt and if it was just based on numbers, then he would be a shoe in. But I do get where Buvey is going here and he fair play to him for not being biased.

As a City fan, It's Messi. It always been Messi. There is no other player in the world now or ever could do what Messi did with Argentina in the World Cup. Not one. Take Messi out from Argentina and look at the team. Haaland had a brilliant season of course. He was one of the main guys in an incredible team. Messi was the team.

I wish best players in a specific year should have won the Ballon d’or once in their life time

"Its not a debate, there is just one" *proceeds to make a video debating it*

The thing never mentioned is, if either Messi or CR7 never existed, the other one would have won it 12 times! Messi gets it for me for the WC, but it will be his last one. His 8th Balon D'or will never be matched, how young he burst onto the scene & was tearing up La Liga, he was a great as a teenagert, his injury record and how he has adapted his game, he will remain the greatest ever.

Reminder that PSG won the league by 1 point, mostly thanks to Messi and Mbappé.

The reason Solskjaers champ league final goal is talked about more than rodris, is he did it against one of the great bayern munich teams, whereas rodri did it against a bang average inter milan team. To add to that Uniteds treble was done at a time when european football was at a very tall high point and we had one of the premier leagues great arsenal teams. Man city won their treble against below average european teams and a premier league that was also well below it's usual level.

Mbappe is not close apparently but scored a hat trick in the World Cup final when his whole team had a day off

I've always thought that the World Cup should heavily affect the outcome of the Ballon D'or when the years align. It's the greatest prize in football and he carried his nation to the trophy for the first time in 36 years, winning the Golden Ball at the same time.

Messi has better overall stats compared to haaland, only his goal count is less, give haaland the golden boot and respect messi, 6 touches a game doesn't make you the best footballer, best poacher award is for haaland

But the Balon d’Or changed 2 years ago to look at the last season vs the calendar year. So Messi’s time in MLS isn’t a factor. It’s a full season in France plus the World Cup Performance.

Buvey so hypocritical going from "the English Championship is probably better than the French league, Saudi, MLS, etc." to now hyping up Messi's stats in those same leagues lmao.

Haaland as a pure goalscorer had zero goals in arguably City's 5 biggest games last season: CL final FA cup final CL semi 2nd leg CL semi 1st leg FA cup semi Messi had 7 goals/assists in 4 World Cup knockout matches, with arguably more pressure on his shoulders than any athlete in the 21st century has had for a single tournament. All the hype was around him going into it. 35 years old... his last chance to win it, and with the expectation of doing so in a Maradona-style willing his team to victory fashion. It's obvious for me

It never happened that a player won the ballon dor in a world cup year without having a single minute in it

I can see the argument for a City player but in awe of Rory putting Kane in the top 3 over Messi. Has to be trolling otherwise he is an absolute weapons grade mong.

Does Rory not know that Messi has the most goals and assists in Europe 😂😂😂.He has the most man of the matches and best average rating (8+) in Europe.2nd most big chances and chances created behind Bruno.The 2nd most dribbles behind Vinicius.The only thing haaland has more is just goals and also has triple the big chances missed

You have to think, if Haaland doesn't win it, literally what more can he do... individually he was amazing, and trophy wise you can't do much better than a treble. So if he loses because of Messi's 1 month (He was forgettable for PSG) then it's just a joke.

Another Rory L Messi put in a performance for the ages in that tournament. Haaland is a world class finisher but to win you have to have GREAT moments. Unfortunately he didn’t score in any of the finals he played in

Apart from the 2021-2022 season Messi has inarguably been the best player in the world since 2008/2009 season. The other players who won balon d’or /FIFA/Uefa awards just happened to win team trophies but were by no means better than Messi. Ronaldo fought to match him in goal scoring but that’s about it, everything else he is above and beyond everyone else. Haaland should try this current season, this time is Messi’s last.

World cup is more valuable because: - Its harder to win - It comes round every 4 years instead of 1 In every single year since beginning of football Messi wins the balon d’or but Haaland winning a treble, breaking Premier League record etc. means he almost has to win as it is a yearly award and Messi had a very average year at PSG

World cup is the biggest trophy And argentina didn't have the top squad not even top3 world cup team, but messi carried them, so i think it should be him

Messi also won three trophies including the World Cup…Messi deserves the Ballon d’or…The guy in blue is talking garbage…World Cup is the pinnacle of football and Messi deserves the Ballon d’or…He just hates Messi’s natural gifts…

As a huge messi fan i cant disagree with Halaand winning it but it also wouldn't be a disgrace if messi wins it. Its just a world cup year so that takes into huge consideration but Halaand forsure wins it

Rory come on now. It's Messi all day. Could haaland win that world cup if he replaced Messi, no chance. Could manchester city win the treble with Messi replacing haaland, absolutely yes. Haaland never scored or assisted in one semi final or final

What about Julián Álvarez …. World Cup winner and treble with Man City

People forget how much the World Cup effects the Ballon Dor

“My mums retired, she’s got nothing to talk about at work so she talks about eastenders” Did no one else pick up on this howler? Mums retired and at work 😂

Buvey wants Messi to win it purely because of his hate for Ronaldo I swear 😂. There is literally no other way u can justify a Man City fan saying that Messi deserves the Ballon d'or over Haaland 😂

Rory you are not serious🤣 Messi in that City is a rollacoaster ride for him. Zero pressure..sorrounded by special players that can do magic at any time. EPL Title is guaranteed for him. Haaland cannot win Balon Dor with 15 touches per game and Lukaku's first touch. Its not a statistic award..Y'all are carrying the entire City trophy cabinet and putting it on Haaland. City won EPL back to back without a striker. Buvey is spot on, Rodri and KDB are waaaaay better players in that City team than Haaland. Haaland would have a proper case if he turned up against Madrid and Inter Milan in UCL as well as FA final against United. These were City's most important games last season and dude pulled a disasterclass. Buvey you are wrong on Mbappe. That Kolo Muani shot goes in Mbappe is winning this Balon DOR easily. They are not just awarding Messi for his entire career, but they are awarding his entire life story. You dont wake up and given Maradona's shoes then you'll live upto it in the most incredible way possible. We are talking of a guy with billions behind him in Qatar. WC is not a 7-game tournament..its the biggest football platform that comes once every 4 years. Yes, once every for years. The prestige and difficulty of any football competition increases with a decrease in the number of games. Thats why WC comes first (7 GAMES), UEFA comes second (13 games), and Leagues comes third (38 games). WC is the perfect definition of Now or Never..it tests everything in a footballer, from character, precision, passion, talent etc...Snubbing Messi after being key to the greatest WC tournament ever seen is disgrace to the game. Its a huge statement that these money-oriented clubs have completely overtaken the national pride in world football.

I agree with buvey, I would have given Rodri Uefa player of the year.

Both are deserving of it. Rory is my guy, but he’s being delusional in this matter saying Messi isn’t deserving of it. Big up to Buvey, the city fan, for being unbiased. I could totally see the Rodri argument. As important if not more important to City than Haaland

Iniesta was incredible in Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2010. He was really important for Barca that year too. He scored the winning goal for Spain as well. But he didn’t win the Balon d’Or because it was doubled down as an award for outstanding individual performance. If they have using this logic, why not award Haaland? Whom won the EPL, UCL and FA Cup as well. He got the individual performance to back it up and won it all at club level. Messi in 2010 didn’t win the UCL. He scored lots of goals and then he got the award. I respect Messi, I’m not into the whole CR7 vs Messi thing. I find the fans super annoying. But why move the goal post just for Messi?

certainly agree with buvey here...messi first and rodri over haaland because football is a team game and it's high time people like rodri received recognition for the dirty work..rodri is such a underrated and savvy footballer....haaland will win everything for the next decade...certainly no damage will be done to his development for him to share the podium and see the GOAT win it again..and harry kane in my eyes is the most professional and nicest guy in elite football...and can't stand mbappe either....for me thiery henry was a better footballer than mbappe...i don't think mbappe will be ever as good as henry with all the drama around him....and hate to say it but rori is being daft here...sadly nothing new about it....

There’s already a trophy for Haaland. It’s called golden boot. But you cannot say that Haaland is a better PLAYER than Messi.. Haaland would’ve had a better argument if he would’ve scored in some of the finals he played.

Lionel Messi is in the top 5 scorers against the premier league top 6 … he hasn’t even played in the prem once so to say he wouldn’t cut it in the prem even now is crazy . Players have tried to crunch him and foul him all of his career and he’s just ghosted past everyone so if you think abit of prem physicality would throw him off then that’s just a ludicrous take

we’ve never seen a carry job of the world cup like what Messi did, he also has the most goal contributions (56) in Europe. maybe it’s just my personal opinion but it kills me inside seeing Haaland being considered the best player in the world because he’s a world class goal poacher.

Haaland went missing in all the big games and finals for city last season and Messi stepped up on the biggest stage and dragged his team to the World Cup final and then showed up in the final and won it while having the same goal contributions as haaland.

for once in my life i agree every word what this man city fan has said. 💯 bang on about messi and why he should win it even though his a city fan.

Performing at The World Cup for your country in-front of the global stage is a different level of performance. Ballon’dor about player who won so the main player for Argentina or Man City player

If we're basing ballon of who scored the most goals then Suarez lewandowksi and Kane should have one too, haaland is a good goalscorer but it was the team effort, Argentina ain't shit without messsi

Where from this narrative that Messi doesn’t have numbers .. he literally had more G\A than Haaland

Following from Rory's comments, I decided to run the calcs because I apparently have no life. If you take all of Kane's goals and assists out of the prem games last season (and for those that argue his goals would have been replaced, just remember that they have Richarlison up front), Spurs get 33 points and would have placed 18th. This means that the Leeds game at the end would have still been 2-1 but somehow a 6 pointer for both teams. As a Leicester fan, this deeply upsets me

Fully agree with the rhodri shout

1998 Zidane wins the ballon d'or, 2002 Ronaldo wins the ballon d'or, 2006 Cannavaro wins the ballon d'or, all because of the world cup while doing nothing in their club sides. Messi was by far the best palyer of his team in every single game he played in the world cup . A player who touches the ball 5 times per game should never win the ballon d'or, i would prefer De Bruyne over Haaland.

Rory overcompensating because he was so wrong about Halaand

i don’t think if either haaland or messi win it people will say they didn’t deserve it because they both very much do, in the average season they will have done enough to win the ballondor but it’s just the fact they both have had crazy seasons. I wouldn’t be mad if messi wins because he basically won a world cup by himself and haaland u could argue didn’t contribute hugely in the big games for city, didn’t score in the semis or the final of the UCL which were the hardest games

Lawrence ‘what world are we living in?’ Bury

messi has never struggled against big opposition, the only time he struggles is if he gets fouled consistently and even then he finds a way out

its a popularity contest, so it will be lionel messi

Agreed with buvey ballon dor isn’t for who had the best stats it’s symbolic,it’s who is the best player if it’s on stats than people like dinho ,zizou,kaka would’ve never won one,it wasn’t even bout trophies earlier messi and ronaldo ‘s race for ballon dor messed up people ‘s minds stats and trophies were just used to separate the two of who gets the win otherwise someone like ribery ,sneijder doesn’t stand a chance I still think ronaldo should‘ve gotten the 2018 one btw

The Ballon d'or is about INDIVIDUAL greatness and no one this year has done it more than Messi, Without messi there is no world cup for Argentina, without him Mbappe and psg are lesser and without messi Miami would be struggling, Haaland has plenty goals but i don't city needing him for success like what Messi does, I despise the arguement that Haaland won a treble and messi won a world cup, its not about that its about who done better over the year and for me it Lionel Messi.

Rory you don’t know ball, Haaland is the top scorer and there is an award for that, the golden boot. The best players in city last season were Rodri KDB Haaland He was not even the best player of his own team how can you say that he is the best player in the world? Haaland completed three passes in the CL final, he didn’t score or assist in 8 semi+ finals. on the other hand Messi had a campaign that will be remembered forever, he won the golden ball which is usually the representation of who wins the ballon d’or. Messi will win and it will be deserved.

What’s more impressive? Carrying your team to a World Cup trophy and playing the highest quality of football or Haaland winning the treble with that man city team?

The ballon d’or has changed from an annual thing to a seasonal thing If it’s based on 22-23 messi should win it

If the Ballon d'Or was based on stats.. No question.. But.. It's about who is the best footballer! If Lewa doesn't win it, for boshing in goals left right and centre.. Then Haaland doesn't deserve it. It has to be Messi.. Winning that WC and adding the golden horns to what was already the goatiest goat of all goat.

Here are the stats between Messi and Haaland for last season: Goals + Assists (in all competitions): Haaland - 53 + 9 = 62 Messi - 37 + 25 = 62 Trophies: Haaland - Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup Messi - Fifa World Cup, French Ligue 1, French Super Cup I think considering both the stats and the trophies, Messi has to win it. Man City have an outstanding team and were odds on favourite for winning the Champions League and prem. Messi was the star performer in the World Cup, which comes around once every 4 years, and the Ballon D'or has a history of favoring World Cup performances. Just look at 2018 when Messi won the European Golden Shoe (most goals in Europe!) and finished 5th while Modric won the Ballon D'or. I am not saying it is the same situation and although Haaland and Messi both deserve it, I think it will go to Messi. I don't think Messi deserves all the hate if he does win it as he has very impressive stats for the entirety of last season (equal goal contributions with Haaland), not just in the World Cup.

For the record, no Arsenal fans are saying Rice is better than Rodri

Messi will win it stop acting like its even up for debate.

Messi obviously

About 4-5 months ago, this was discussed and Buvey said if City wins treble, haaland would win it but now he still is stuck with Messi which means it was all about the romanticism for him and nothing haaland do would change it.

As a city fan I believe that Haaland should get it over Messi. Messi is the goat but if we are giving it to him because of his career and a World Cup trophy? Then I think it would be unfair since Haaland probably never will get one because he represent Norway which is not that likely to get World Cup gold ever. I do agree with the points regarding Rodri though, I said throughout last season that the most important player in that squad is Rodri. And with the service from KDB I still think we would have close to the same amount of goals, without Haaland, but divided across more players.

Rory clearly doesn’t understand the factors that went into the ballon d’or. The dates were changed to incorporate the World Cup into whoever wins the ballon d’or. So the people running the ballon d’or decided the World Cup matters. How difficult is this to understand? Thanks for reminding me on why not to take you seriously Rory.

Kane makes top 3 and Messi shouldn't even be on the list according to Rory. He has to be doing it for the clips, surely

The Golden Ball shouldn’t go to a player that only has 3 passes in a UCL Final and didn’t show up in any major finals or semi-finals

Buvey knows ball😎

Rory doesn’t appreciate messi clearly.

You can't fool us, we all know that's Reece James in your thumbnail!

The ballon dor winner just isn't haaland. It's Messi. Whoever watches haaland with his first touch being heavier than the bags under rorys eyes, not being able to make 10 yard 15 yard passes, and still thinks haaland deserves a ballon dor doesn't understand football.

Isn't elite sport/performance supposed to be about being able to deliver when it matters? World Cup happens every 4 years and is the most prestigious trophy any footballer can ever win. It's just 7 games? yeah the 7 most important games in the life of any footballer, and Messi performed to the highest level and was, by far, the biggest reason why Argentina won the WC. I don't know why people try to downplay that at all. You can't. Haaland won the treble, fantastic,but the World Cup is above it for sure.

He WOULD be top 3 players in the PL.

I’ve given up on the balon d’or, might aswell be the best attacker reward… I know everyone loves attacking football and goals but fuck sake I feel for midfielders/defenders/gk never have a chance

Messi won the WC in 2022. It's the 2023 Ballon d'Or. Plus, Messi won it for the Copa America win which isn't the thought competition back in 2021/22. Also, why didn't a 19yr old Mbappe win it in 2018 WC win instead of Modric? This Messi over obsession is in a way that is so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing. He had his time! It's over.

So embarrassing if Messi wins it’s disgraceful poor in ligue 1 scored more pens than open play goals in world cup why didn’t varane win the ballon dor in 2018 won word cup champions league

Club stats comparison taken from transfermarkt (not including Inter Miami stats): Goals: Haaland 52 vs 20 Messi Assists: Haaland 9 vs 20 Messi Overall: Haaland 61 vs 40 Messi Games played: Haaland 53 vs 40 Messi Awards comparison: Messi: World cup Golden ball, Ligue 1 top assister Haaland: Uefa player of the year, PFA player of the year, Premier League top goal scorer (broke record), Champions League top goal scorer Trophies comparison: Messi: World cup, Ligue 1 title Haaland: Premier League title, FA cup, Champions League (treble) In summary this is simply a question of what matters more club or country. Messi undoubtedly had the best season in international football; Haaland undoubtedly had the best season in club football (except maybe Rodri). For me I prioritise club football and so I choose Haaland (or Rodri)

Harry Kane carried Tottenham to 9th! Great effort

Haaland must win