Manchester City & Pep Guardiola make major Ballon d’Or history

While Lionel Messi might have got his hands on a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or crown at Monday’s awards ceremony, the Argentinian icon was not the only one to make major history in Paris.

 

Manchester City write their own piece of Ballon d’Or history

Crowned Champions League winners for a maiden time back in June as they clinched a famous 1-0 victory against Italian giants Inter Milan, Manchester City have certainly cemented their reputation as one of the greatest club sides from the modern era.

Becoming the first English club since Manchester United in 1999 to be crowned treble champions, the Sky Blues have only continued on a trophy romp since Pep Guardiola joined the Premier League giants back in 2016.

Now winning five of their previous six Premier League campaigns, Man City also received another landmark award on Monday night.

Awarded with the Men’s Team of the Year accolade and becoming the first European club to win the title in consecutive seasons, it is hard to find anyone across the footballing world that would argue with the Sky Blues’ latest record-breaking achievement.

Back-to-Back winner! Manchester City is the men club of the year!

Congrats, @ManCity 💙#clubdelannée #ballondor pic.twitter.com/jMidewf4tM

— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023

Champions League Special: 40/1 Champions League 2023/24 Group Winners Accumulator Tip

 

Haaland’s agent fumes at Ballon d’Or snub

While many might have felt that Messi’s World Cup heroics out in Qatar over the winter had rightfully allowed him to get his hands on an eighth Ballon d’Or crown, there was one person in particular that felt that their client had been ‘robbed’.

Spearheading Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign last season and breaking a string of records while on both the domestic and European stage, Erling Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimienta, made it clear that she believed Messi was an unworthy winner on Monday night.

“Haaland won the treble with Manchester City. He led them to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. He scored… how many goals? I’ve even forgotten the count. He broke the all-time Premier League record. He scored tons of goals.”

“And he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or today? Are you kidding me? Literally speechless. How is this even possible? What more does he have to do to win the Ballon d’Or? The thing I have to say right now is that Haaland was robbed.”

🚨 Breaking : Erling Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimienta, says Haaland was robbed of winning the Ballon d’Or 2023.

🗣️ Rafaela Pimienta : ” Haaland won the treble with Manchester City. He led them to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. He scored… how many goals? I’ve… pic.twitter.com/vEUFnZ5AJA

— UzUmakiᵐᵃᵈʳᶦᵈᶦˢᵗᵃ (@cristiano7TheG) October 30, 2023

Claiming a maiden Premier League Golden Boot when arriving from Borussia Dortmund last year, it is no surprise that Haaland is tipped as a runaway contender to make even more striking history this season.

 

Premier League Golden Boot Odds:

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City) @ 1/5 with CopyBet
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) @ 6/1 with JeffBet
• Son-Heung Min (Tottenham) @ 10/1 with bet365

You can find all of the best available Premier League Golden Boot markets with our special BetUK bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets offer.

 

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