Guardiola managed Messi between 2008 and 2012 at Barcelona and witnessed firsthand Haaland’s excellent 2022-23 campaign with City. But the Spaniard refused to be drawn on picking between the two, insisting there should be two awards.
“Always I said the Ballon d’Or should be in two sections; one for Messi, then after another one so Haaland should win, yes,” Guardiola said. “We won the treble, he scored a million goals.
“The worst season for Messi is the best for the rest of the players. Both deserve it. Realistically I want Haaland to have it cause he helped us achieve what we achieved, I would love it. But Messi won the World Cup.”
