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Former Middlesbrough and Sheffield United forward Jan \u00c5ge Fj\u00f8rtoft has listed out three reasons why Manchester City ace Erling Haaland<\/a> deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/template><\/p>\n 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<\/a> too.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n Now, his compatriot Fj\u00f8rtoft, a former Norway international with 71 caps to his name, has tweeted three reasons why Haaland deserves the Ballon d’Or over everyone else.<\/p>\n He wrote<\/a> 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\u2019s run to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n “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\u2019s run to the quarter-finals.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Bayern Munich and England star Harry Kane<\/a> and Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 are among the top choices, while PSG’s French ace and reigning Ballon d’Or <\/a>winner Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 is in the race too.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Erling Haaland eyes Ballon d’Or glory with Manchester City<\/h2>\n