Lionel Messi LONDON, Oct 20 (Agencies): Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should have his own category at the Ballon d'Or after he was asked whether the World Cup winner or Erling Haaland should win this year's award.
Messi, who recently left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for Inter Miami, is favourite to win the award for a record-extending eighth time after leading Argentina to World Cup glory last year.
Haaland could be his main rival for the prize after scoring 52 goals in 53 games to help Manchester City win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola managed Messi at Barcelona and currently coaches Norway forward Haaland.
"Always I said that the Ballon D'or should be in two sections, one for Messi, and after look for the other one, so Haaland should win, yes," Guardiola said on Friday.
"We won the treble because he scored 50 million goals but of course Messi, if you tell me the worst season for Messi is the best for the rest of the players.
"Both deserve it, so what can I say?"
The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony takes place in Paris on October 30.
Meanwhile, Messi is set to win his eighth Ballon d'Or later this month, with the World Cup winner to become the first player playing outside of the European top flight to take home the storied award, according to Spanish outlet SPORT.
The Argentine's eighth trophy will extend his record as the most-decorated recipient of the award, and will see the 36-year-old reclaim the Ballon d'Or after it went to Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema in 2022.
The former Barcelona star has long been the frontrunner to scoop the top prize at the awards ceremony in Paris at the end of October, after captaining Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Since winning football's most celebrated tournament, Messi has made the move from the European game to MLS, joining David Beckham's Inter Miami during this summer's transfer window.
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