ERLING HAALAND surprisingly missed out on Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player award to Lionel Messi – leaving his dad clenching his jaw.
Haaland led City to a stunning Treble triumph last season with a staggering total of 52 goals and nine assists in 53 appearances.
The star striker’s incredible performances saw him finishing as top scorer in the Premier League as well as the Champions League.
However, Messi still beat the Norway international to the prestigious award, even though he now plays in the MLS for Inter Miami.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also bested a prestigious list of candidates, including Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Haaland’s City team-mates Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva were also nominated.
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The list also included Marcelo Brozovic, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Ilkay Gundogan, who played with the 23-year-old at the Etihad last season.
And Haaland’s dad – ex-City ace Alf-Inge – couldn’t hide his frustration after the Argentina international was handed the award.
The camera caught the former City ace looking stony faced with furrowed brow as other attendees applauded the Barcelona legend.
And some football fans agree with the ex-Leeds star’s reaction in the capital.
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One supporter tweeted: “Feel bad for Haaland man. His dad was even p****d….”
Another posted: “Haaland not winning a single award after winning all this has to be one the biggest robberies in football history.”
A third said: “I’ll say it again. Haaland should be winning these awards. Messi is a legend but Haaland came to a new league, smashed its goal record, and won a Treble.”
This fan wrote: “What more does Haaland have to do?”
And that one wondered: “If Erling Haaland had won the World Cup with Norway in December 2022 while Messi won the treble, who would have won both the Ballon d’Or and The Best Awards?”
It wasn’t the only controversial moment of the evening, either – after Pep Guardiola accidentally dropped an F-bomb after an awkward grilling from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Fifa The Best awards
Men’s Player: Lionel Messi
Men’s coach: Pep Guardiola
Men’s XI: Thibaut Courtois; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias; Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham, Kevin de Bruyne; Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylina Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Goalkeeper: Ederson
Women’s player: Aitana Bonmati
Women’s coach: Sarina Wiegman
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Women’s XI: Mary Earps; Lucy Bronze, Olga Carmona, Alex Greenwood; Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James, Ella Toone; Aitana Bonmati; Alex Morgan, Sam Kerr
Women’s goalkeeper: Mary Earps
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
