Osimhen is on the Balon d’Or shortlist, but he does not believe that he has a chance of winning the award
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has named Argentine forward Lionel Messi and Norwegian hitman Erling Haaland as his favourites for the 2023 Balon d’Or award, Soccernet reports.
Osimhen is one of the 30 nominees for the prestigious Balon d’Or award this year. The 24-year-old Nigerian striker registered 31 goals in 38 games, helping Napoli to their first Scudetto win in 33 years and their first-ever quarterfinal finish in the UEFA Champions League.
Last season, he became the first African to win the Capocannoniere with 26 goals. He also won the award for the best striker in the Serie A and arguably the best player in the league.
However, ahead of the award ceremony which will take place next Monday, Osimhen does not see himself winning the award. Rather, he believes Messi and Haaland are the clear favourites.
“I think the two people that are sure to win it are Haaland and Messi, Osimhen said in an interview per Napoli Magazine.
“They both deserve it, they had an amazing season. Messi won the World Cup, Haaland won the treble.”
The award ceremony will take place in Paris next Monday. If Messi wins the award, it will be a record-eighth title for him.
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Balon d'Or is a global award, so it cannot be rated like a continental competition. In a world cup year, world cup performance will be first considered before continental performance. World cup performance first, country performance in continental competition second and club performance third. Messi Argentina won the continental competition and won the world cup under his leadership. So the only achievement of Halaad is at the club level so there is no way for him to win Balon d'Or. Messi is far ahead of him.
this is to rasheeda...
so that year the previous times Messi and Ronaldo won the ballon dor they've won the continental trophy's or whatever you call it??
this your analysis is trash ok!
That tells you that he does not know what he is saying.
It's a world cup year, it will go to Messi.
people are forgetting that Messi's Argentina didn't just win the world cup. He was the stand out player in that tournament (World Cup), at 35yrs of age. If he sat on the bench and Argentina managed to win it without him (just like portugal planned to do with Cr7), then they will or should give Haaland, but he was the tournaments best player. This is an argument because those that love Ronaldo are making it so. Normally it's a straightforward decision. Even Haaland himself knows and no one is complaining about Messi getting the award for that performance. Every journalist and analyst are of this opinion only one sect of supporters are trying to make it look bad so there can be an argument. Peter Drury said so already sha, there will always be those that love to debate and argue, but it really doesn't change the facts as we know them.
Under the same circumstance Messi won in 2010 ahead of Wesley Sneijder. Messi couldn't even inspire hos team for treble that year, as they are runners up in Copa Del Rey, yet he won the award.
So. I strongly believe Haaland has a strong case in this years Balon D'or despite Messi has inspired Argentina to world Cup Glory.
Sneijder's performance in 2010 world cup was never close to wining the golden ball, Diogo Folan won it. Holland lost the final to spain. Messi's case is far different. Halland was none decisive in city's most important games. He didn't have an impact both city's semi final games, he had no impact in the champions league final, FA cup final, super cup final. He's just a tap in player.
Sneijder's performance in 2010 world cup was never close to wining the golden ball, Diogo Folan won it. Holland lost the final to spain. Messi's case is far different. Halland was none decisive in city's most important games. He didn't have an impact both city's semi final games, he had no impact in the champions league final, FA cup final, super cup final. He's just a tap in player.