Even if the information that Messi surpassed Haaland to win the 2023 Golden Ball had not yet been leaked, many people would have already chosen this result.

The 2023 Golden Ball Award Gala will take place in Paris on October 30. A few days ago, the scoop was announced, Messi was announced as the title owner and it will be the 8th Golden Ball in his career.

The 2023 Golden Ball is considered to be only a competition between Messi and Haaland

At the age of 36, Messi still looks great. He just scored a double for Argentina in the 2-0 victory at Peru that ended a few minutes ago, maintaining a winning streak in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after 4 matches.

Messi also created an unbelievable fever in the US when he agreed to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami after leaving PSG in the summer. Simply put, Messi is still different, someone who can create a turning point and speak up when necessary.

Caught Offside pointed out exactly the reason why Messi ‘knocked out’ Haaland: the importance of number 10 in the team, shining in big matches, while the Man City striker scored an impressive number of goals, but ‘lost attractive in important and decisive competitions.

“Haaland’s scoring record in the Premier League in his first season for Man City is truly special. He deserves praise, but wasn’t the Norwegian striker bought for that?

A few days ago it was reported that Messi was announced as the winner

In the biggest match of the season – the Champions League final with Inter Milan, Haaland was nowhere to be seen and did not make any impact. Before that, in matches with Real Madrid, he was also lackluster…

Winning the treble with Man City clearly helps Haaland become a candidate for the 2023 Golden Ball, or so does Mabppe’s hat-trick and scoring record at the World Cup. But Messi is still ‘ranked above’ compared to both.

The fact that he inspired and led Argentina to World Cup 2022 glory is more than enough. But we can still ‘list’ Messi’s goals and assists for PSG and Inter Miami as well as the impact he created…

Messi always appears in important moments, when the team needs him the most. He deserves to win the 2023 Golden Ball.”