Europe has been feeling the wrath of a Nordic storm.
Murmurs of this phenomenon first emerged out of Poland in 2019 when Honduras Under-20s felt the full force of his supreme goalscoring power. Nine goals, they said; in one game! Surely it couldn’t be true?!
Before that Central American slaughter, the conquerer decided he’d achieved all he could in his homeland and has since laid a path of destruction behind him in foreign lands. First, it was the Austrian Bundesliga, then the Bundesliga itself before he took on his most fearsome challenge in the Premier League. But the defences of the cash-laden English top-flight proved no match for the ruthlessly efficient Erling Haaland.
Division-by-division, the Norwegian machine is conquering the continent in a manner unlike anyone before him. His efficient eye for goal, demonic speed and utterly ludicrous athleticism have seen him draw comparisons to otherworldly beings and is regarded alongside Kylian Mbappe as the next generation-defining talents football has to offer.
Many project the current Manchester City striker to duel the French superstar for the most illustrious individual accolade in the sport, with Haaland undoubtedly capable of ending his career as a winner of a Ballon d’Or or two.
Haaland’s rise to the top has been pretty swift considering he was first discussed as a talent to watch out for following his move to RB Salzburg in 2019, just a few months before the Under-20 World Cup.
A nine-goal showing against Honduras caught the footballing world’s attention and he’s failed to waver despite the increased scrutiny since.
The Norwegian’s first Ballon d’Or nomination came in 2021 after scoring at a goal-per-game rate with Borussia Dortmund. He was subsequently shortlisted in 2022, with his third nomination arriving in 2023.
While only Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals in the 2020s than Haaland, it’s not surprising that the striker is yet to win the Ballon d’Or. His first nomination only arrived in 2021, when he finished 11th in voting, before coming tenth in 2022.
Haaland, though, is a major contender in 2023 after he broke the Premier League’s single-season scoring record in 2022/23. The 23-year-old scored 36 times in the league and 52 in all competitions during his debut campaign at Manchester City, inspiring Pep Guardiola’s side to a historic treble.
He’s a true goalscoring phenomenon and his remarkable season means only Lionel Messi is considered more likely to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Haaland, though, remains hopeful that he’ll claim the first major individual prize of his career: “I believe in myself, I really do,” he told France Football. “I know I can still improve a lot, I’m still young. But yes, I think I have a chance this year.”
Should he continue to score at the unerring rate he’s shown throughout his senior career thus far, there’s no doubt Haaland will be a leading Ballon d’Or contender for years to come.
|
Year |
Number of votes/points |
Finish |
|---|---|---|
|
2021 |
33 |
11th |
|
2022 |
18 |
10th |
Haaland is set to enjoy his best Ballon d’Or performance in 2023. He’s only been shortlisted for the award twice, with his best finish coming in 2022 when he finished tenth.
Karim Benzema was the runaway winner as he finished first by the second-biggest margin in Ballon d’Or history. The Frenchman finished with 549 votes, while Haaland garnered 18. Along with Benzema, fellow strikers Robert Lewandowski (fourth) and Mbappe (sixth) finished ahead of Haaland.
Despite missing a considerable chunk of the season with various injuries, Haaland ended the 2021/22 campaign with 22 goals in 24 Bundesliga games. He also scored three in three in the Champions League, but Dortmund disappointed in the group stage and dropped into the Europa League.
The striker actually earned more votes while finishing 11th the previous year. 2021 was the final award which accounted for the calendar year as opposed to the season and Haaland ended the 2020/21 campaign in fine fettle, scoring four times in the Champions League knockout stages before finishing the Bundesliga season with 27 goals in 28 games. He also lifted the DFB-Pokal with BVB in 2021.
READ MORE ON THE 2023 BALLON D’OR NOMINATIONS AND PREDICTED RANKINGS
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
90Mins
