Erling Haaland has had no issue picking up awards regularly during the embryonic stages of his career and his record-breaking 2022/23 season has been recognised with countless nominations for individual prizes.
While the Ballon d’Or remains the most prestigious individual award there is in the sport, FIFA’s The Best Awards run it close. Haaland has been named as one of the candidates for the latest men’s award, which has been handed out each year since its inception in 2017.
Here’s the Norwegian striker’s history with the award and his chances of success when the ceremony rolls around.
Given the quality Haaland has shown over the past two or three years and the standing that has given him in the sport, it feels as though he has been around for much longer than he really has.
Having been nominated for the award in 2023, he is now on his third attempt at trying to win it or finish in the top three. The first two times Haaland was nominated in 2021 and 2022, he wasn’t expected to win the award.
After a debut season with Man City in which he scored a frankly ridiculous 52 goals across all competitions, he is a serious contender to be crowned the best player for the qualifying period which is 19 December 2022 and 20 August 2023.
Not all 52 of his goals were in that period, but a huge amount of them were, along with some from the new campaign.
Haaland’s FIFA The Best results 2021
In 2021, the first year Haaland was nominated, he ended up receiving seven points in the voting system. Robert Lewandowski won the award with 48 points.
Haaland’s FIFA The Best results 2022
This time, part of Haaland’s form for Manchester City was included and he had only gone from strength to strength. He ended up finishing fifth with 24 points, a superb result for a young player who had made a big move during the qualifying period.
Lionel Messi was the winner with 52 points.
So, who is Haaland up against this time? Given he is a real contender to win, the Norwegian will be paying very close attention to his fellow nominees.
The primary opponents for Haaland are probably Kylian Mbappe, just on account of his incredible quality and relentless goal record, and Kevin De Bruyne, who was just as important to Man City’s successes over the qualifying period.
The same cannot quite be said for Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva who weren’t on the same level as their two Man City teammates. Rodri was vital, but defensive midfielders always struggle in these awards, which may rule out Ilkay Gundogan too.
Lionel Messi always has to be feared, but the 2022 World Cup final was one day before the qualifying period began. Victor Osimhen has been wonderful and helped Napoli to a historic Serie A title, but his goal tally does not rival Haaland’s. Things are looking good for the Norwegian.
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