Erling Haaland is confident in his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, even against the odds-on favorite Lionel Messi.

In his debut season at Manchester City, Haaland scored an impressive 52 goals, contributing to the club’s victories in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Super Cup. Few players have had such a remarkable individual season as Haaland, who also set numerous Premier League goalscoring records.

Typically, a season like Haaland’s would make him the clear favorite for the Ballon d’Or, but he faces tough competition from Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar, scoring twice in the final and excelling in the penalty shootout. While Messi’s performance for PSG was commendable, it did not match the level of Haaland’s achievements. Consequently, Haaland believes he has a good chance of defying the odds and winning the award when it is announced at the end of October.

During an interview with L’Equipe, Haaland discussed his prospects and his potential for improvement after his remarkable year in Manchester. When asked if he considered himself the best striker in the world, he responded diplomatically: “In my mind… It all depends on what we mean by striker. It’s a tricky question. I’m definitely up there. Am I the best? Maybe. I know I can still improve a great deal. I’m still young. But yes, I believe I have a chance [at winning the Ballon d’Or] this year.”

Kylian Mbappe is another player who could contend for the prestigious award, having played a crucial role in France’s journey to the World Cup final, including a remarkable comeback from 3-1 down to force a penalty shootout. However, Haaland downplayed the idea of a rivalry between himself and Mbappe, drawing parallels to the longstanding comparisons between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Haaland said, “That’s what everyone thinks, but you have to emphasize just how extraordinary the achievements of Messi and Cristiano have been. They are still fantastic players even as they get older. But I never view myself in competition with other players; it’s not how I approach things. I focus on my own development, continually striving to improve every day and be the best version of myself.”

Regarding his unique ability to create space in the box for scoring opportunities from crosses, Haaland attributed it to instinct and hard work. He explained, “It’s partly instinct and, of course, hard work. Instinct is the belief that the ball will arrive in a specific spot, a sort of sixth sense hidden in the brain. But aside from that, it requires a lot of work on individual skills and an understanding of your teammates. It’s about combining that instinct with a deep understanding of the game, knowing when the moment is right.”