Manchester City midfielder Rodri believes that Lionel Messi will win the 2023 men’s Ballon d’Or award.

Rodri and Inter Miami star Messi are both among 30 players nominated for the prize.

However, most observers are convinced that only two men are really in contention – Messi and Man City striker Erling Haaland.

The winner will be decided by the votes of 100 journalists from FIFA’s 100 top-ranked member nations.

Players are supposed to be judged based on their performances and achievements between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023.

Messi captained Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup final in December 2022.

Meanwhile, Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 games to fire Man City to a famous treble of trophies during the 2022/23 season – the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Lionel Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina last year

Erling Haaland scored 52 goals in his first season as a Manchester City player

IMAGO/Colorsport

“I think a certain Leo Messi is going to take it,” Rodri told COPE, before acknowledging that “Haaland is also a very large figure and has merits.”

Like Haaland, defensive midfielder Rodri also played a key role in Man City’s treble success.

However, he believes that he is not marketable enough to come out on top in football’s most prestigious popularity contest.

“I know it’s an individual award with a lot of marketing,” Rodri added.

“Among the monsters I’m with, of course, I lacked marketing, like Xavi and Iniesta. I worry about the things I can control, which is the collective awards.”

Rodri was referring to iconic former Barcelona and Spain midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

Xavi and Iniesta won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and three major tournaments with Spain but neither ever placed higher than second in a Ballon d’Or vote.

Midfielder Rodri scored the winning goal for City against Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final