ERLING HAALAND has been urged to snub the Ballon d’Or ceremony if Lionel Messi poaches the title from under his nose.
The Manchester City superstar, 23, has turned heads with his new braided locks while away on international duty with Norway.
On Wednesday the Ballon d’Or released its 30-man shortlist for the annual award.
For the first time in two decades, five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo is absent from the list.
However, long-time rival and seven-time winner Messi is already the people’s favourite to claim the prize.
The 36-year-old moved to MLS this summer – linking up with David Beckham at Inter Miami – following a disappointing two-year spell at Paris Saint Germain.
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But the Argentine led his country to World Cup glory last December.
Haaland is Messi’s closest competitor having scored a remarkable 52 goals in his debut season for City and winning the treble.
And former Chelsea and Scotland ace Craig Burley has urged the Norwegian to snub the Ballon d’Or ceremony for the rest of his CAREER if Messi wins.
He told ESPN: “If Erling Haaland doesn’t win this, close the shop.
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“Lionel Messi won the World Cup and it’s a great achievement, but it’s a four-week period. His general league form was not the best. PSG were terrible.
“Erling Haaland? Over 50 goals, a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League.
“Haaland should win this award. I know that a lot of people out there can’t get off the Messi bandwagon… but look at the bigger picture.
“And if I was Haaland, I would never go back to another Ballon d’Or in my life, same as Robert Lewandowski.”
Fans have joined the plea on the striker’s most-recent Instagram post.
One fan said: “Flying high to get that maiden Ballon d’Or!!”
Another added: “Man you are about to be robbed like they did to Ronaldo.”
A third wrote: “This years Ballon d’Or winner 🔥”
The winner of the prestigious award is set to be revealed in Paris on October 30.
But others were more focused on his new hair do – with Haaland showing off his new braids – featuring the caption: “AIR-ling”.
And one fan joked: “New hair – More air.”
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Another suggested it had created a “zero gravity glitch.”
A third simply wrote: “That hair though…”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
