Former Manchester United midfielder Robbie Savage named his favourite to win Ballon d’or 2023 few days after the nominees list has been revealed by France Football.

Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland who are the outright favourites to claim the award are naturally included in this list.

The Inter Miami captain’s biggest argument to clinch a 8th Ballon d’or is his World Cup triumph last year in Qatar.

On the other hand, Haaland has been instrumental for Manchester City in his first season in England helping the Skyblues win their first-ever treble.

Speaking to Planet Sport on who should win the award this year, Robbie Savage said Haaland is his pick as winning the Champions league is harder than lifting the World Cup trohy but added that he thinks Messi will win it ahead of the Norwegian.

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“Can Erling Haaland feel aggrieved? Winning the Premier League, winning the Champions League. Is that a better achievement than winning a World Cup? You know, there’s a big debate what’s harder to win the Champions League or a World Cup”, he said.

“That’s a huge debate. You have to beat some of the best teams in the world to win a Champions League. Do you have to beat some of the best teams in the world to win a World Cup? It’s a huge debate.

“I think personally, this is just my opinion, to win the Champions League now is harder than to win a World Cup. People will say ‘what do I know’ I’ve never competed in either of them, but that’s my opinion.

“So Halland or Messi? I think the voting will go to Messi because the World Cup, which eluded him, he’s won it with his teammates. I think Messi will win it but if you’re looking at Man City doing the treble, look at the impact Erling Haaland had in his first season in the Premier League. Man City couldn’t win the Champions League, but they did it with Haaland there, so for me, Haaland should win it, but I think Messi will.”