Fjørtoft backs Haaland for 2026 Ballon d’Or after Man City trophies, Norway WC run
Former Middlesbrough and Frankfurt striker Jan Åge Fjørtoft has declared that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Writing on X earlier today, Fjørtoft said it is clear that Haaland should win because he helped Manchester City secure trophies last season, played a key role in Norway’s quarter‑final run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and scored 58 goals for club and country combined. He acknowledged a possible Norwegian bias but stood by his assessment.
The endorsement matters to Nigerian football fans who closely follow the Ballon d’Or as a measure of global excellence. Haaland’s strong case adds to the annual debate about whether an African player can break the European dominance that has seen only George Weah win the award in 1995. With Victor Osimhen and other African stars regularly linked to the conversation, such commentary shapes expectations for continental representation on football’s biggest individual stage.
Haaland, already a 30‑man nominee for this year’s award, finished as runner‑up to Lionel Messi in 2023. The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced later this year after voting by international journalists.
Given Haaland’s trophy haul, World Cup impact and goal record, do you believe an African player has a realistic chance to win the Ballon d’Or in the near future, or will the award remain largely a European preserve?