Benzema and Haaland shine - Will Messi miss the Ballon d'Or Award?

If Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland maintain their impressive form in the knockout stages of the Champions League, the 2023 Ballon d'Or race will become even more thrilling. On April 13 (Hanoi time), Benzema scored a goal to help Real Madrid defeat Chelsea 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals this season.

Just a day prior, Haaland also caught people's attention with a goal and an assist, helping Man City defeat Bayern Munich 3-0 at the Etihad. Haaland and Benzema's outstanding performances in Europe's most prestigious club competition present a significant challenge to Lionel Messi, who is expected to secure his eighth Ballon d'Or award in October.

Champions League can change the situation

World Cup 2022 is not secure advantage for Messi

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For the 2022/23 season, the Ballon d'Or race will largely be determined by two major events: the 2022 World Cup and the Champions League. Currently, Lionel Messi is considered the front-runner for the prestigious individual award presented by France Football. His excellent performance with Argentina in Qatar has helped him surpass other contenders in the race.

However, PSG's early exit from the Champions League increases the likelihood of Messi not winning the Ballon d'Or by the end of the year, particularly as other top candidates such as Benzema and Haaland display impressive performances in the competition.

Benzema's excellence

Prior to the round of 16 in the 2022/23 Champions League, Benzema had failed to score a goal. However, in just three knockout round matches, the French striker has scored four goals and provided one assist. The Champions League was crucial in helping Benzema secure the 2022 Ballon d'Or, and history could repeat itself if he leads Real Madrid to a successful defense of their European title.

Of course, Benzema must maintain his excellent individual form from last season. Initially underrated in the Ballon d'Or race due to his lackluster performance in the 2022 World Cup, his current record of 26 goals and 6 assists in 33 appearances this season is enough to compete with his peers. If Benzema continues to perform brilliantly in the Champions League and helps Real Madrid defend the championship, he could dethrone Messi.

Erling Haaland's superiority

Erling Haaland shone just as brightly as Benzema in the first leg of this season's Champions League quarter-finals. His performance against Bayern Munich helped him reach a record of 45 goals and 6 assists in 39 appearances this season, making him the top scorer in the top 5 European leagues. In the Champions League alone, the Man City striker has scored 11 goals and provided 1 assist in 7 matches.

These impressive statistics make Haaland a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or title, but his chances of winning it will largely depend on whether or not his team wins a major title at the end of the season. Despite his impressive performances, Pep Guardiola's team has yet to secure any trophies. To convince the experts, Haaland will need to win either the Champions League or at least the Premier League. If he can do so, his scoring record is too impressive to be ignored, potentially allowing the 2000-born striker to surpass the likes of Benzema and Messi.

Any chance for Messi?

It's important to consider that Haaland and Benzema may eliminate each other in the Champions League semi-finals if Real Madrid and Man City are drawn against each other. With both teams having an advantage after the quarter-finals, it's likely that only one of them will have a chance to challenge Messi for the Golden Ball until October.

Messi still has enough club-level statistics to convince experts, with 19 goals and 18 assists in 34 appearances for PSG this season, despite the boos from fans and the team's disappointing form. His top performance in the 2022 World Cup also boosts his chances of winning the 2023 Golden Ball title.

However, if Messi doesn't end the 2022/23 season with an impressive record, his chances of winning the award may decline. PSG have yet to secure the Ligue 1 title and are only 6 points ahead of the second-placed team. Messi's recent form in Ligue 1 has also been subpar, with only 1 goal in the last 4 matches. With PSG out of the French Cup, winning the domestic league is their only major trophy hope.

On the other hand, both Benzema and Haaland still have many opportunities to win titles. Man City are still in contention for three major trophies - the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. Similarly, Real Madrid have reached the final of the King's Cup and are in a good position to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. Collective titles are always an important factor in the Ballon d'Or race, and the Champions League success could be a significant boost for Haaland or Benzema in their pursuit of the award, where Messi currently has the upper hand.

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