Former Middlesbrough and Sheffield United forward Jan Åge Fjørtoft has listed out three reasons why Manchester City ace Erling Haaland deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.
The 26-year-old star is among the nominees on the 30-man shortlist unveiled by France Football last Tuesday, making it the sixth time he’s been in the running for football’s most coveted individual honor.
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He enjoyed another trophy-laden spell with his club last season, picking up the FA Cup and EFL Cup after a fabulous 38-goal haul in 52 games, before shining for Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup too.
Spearheading his nation’s first campaign in the tournament since 1998, Erling Haaland struck seven times to guide his team to an admirable quarter-final finish, their best ever at a World Cup.
Now, his compatriot Fjørtoft, a former Norway international with 71 caps to his name, has tweeted three reasons why Haaland deserves the Ballon d’Or over everyone else.
He wrote that the striker won two trophies in England last season, scored 58 goals for club and country, and became a global star at the World Cup, playing a huge role in Norway’s run to the quarter-finals.
“You’ll say I’m biased because I’m Norwegian too. But to me, it’s clear: Erling Haaland should win the Ballon d’Or. Two trophies in England last season, 58 goals for club and country, and became a global star at the World Cup, playing a huge role in Norway’s run to the quarter-finals.”
Each point he mentioned certainly makes a case for Haaland, whose best finish at the Ballon d’Or came in 2023, when he was the runner-up to Lionel Messi by just over 100 votes.
He wasn’t even at the World Cup the previous year, but with a commanding display in the latest edition under his belt, his chances look brighter this time, although he still faces stiff competition.
Bayern Munich and England star Harry Kane and Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé are among the top choices, while PSG’s French ace and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé is in the race too.
Erling Haaland eyes Ballon d’Or glory with Manchester City
So far, Rodri is the only Manchester City player to have clinched the Ballon d’Or, after the Spaniard brought home the prize in 2024.
Although he’s been nominated again after captaining Spain to World Cup glory in the summer, following a successful run with City, the midfield phenom joined FC Barcelona last month.
It leaves Erling Haaland as the only active player from the English side to earn a nomination for this year’s Ballon d’Or. While he certainly has a case, City’s unsuccessful run in the Premier League (they finished second to Arsenal) and the Champions League (last-16 exit to Real Madrid) could hold him back.
Edited by Shardul Sant