“Keeping it safe for Messi” – Jamie Carragher is convinced of who’s winning Ballon d’Or 2023

Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and Thierry Henry have all vote for winner.

“Keeping it safe for Messi” – Jamie Carragher is convinced of who’s winning Ballon d’Or 2023

Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards with the Ballon d'Or award. (Via Carragher's X))

The 2023 Ballon d’Or is soon to be announced. The Footballing World is getting ready for the most prestigious individual award in European football. Moreover, this year’s Ballon d’Or race is tightly contested by two players – Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. On the one hand, the Argentine legend is on the back of a historic World Cup win.

On the other hand, the young forward boasts a record-breaking treble. As the Footballing World debates the victor of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, English football pundit Jamie Carragher is convinced of who the award is going to be. The former Liverpool man recently took to Instagram, posing with the coveted Ballon d’Or award. However, it was the caption that put Football Twitter in splits.

YouTube video

“Keeping it safe for @leomessi,” read the caption. Jamie Carragher posed for the picture with co-host and football pundit Micah Richards. Earlier, a friend of Lionel Messi announced on social media that the player was informed of his victory prior to the ceremony.

FS Video
https://twitter.com/Carra23/status/1717246639105101922?s=20

With more and more pointers tipping the award in Leo’s favor, one can only imagine who the recipient of this year’s award will be.

Thierry Henry sees Lionel Messi as clear favorite for Ballon d’Or

Speaking for CBS Sports, Thierry Henry named his ‘clear’ favorite for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. The Arsenal legend and French international said his former Barcelona teammate deserves the award.

Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi during their time at Barcelona.
Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi during their time at Barcelona. (Via X/@BarcaTimes)

When asked if it was the right decision to give the award to Lionel Messi, he replied: 

You can debate as much as you want, but if you win the World Cup the way he won it. There's nothing more to argue about.

Moreover, he said that the Argentine has a better claim than Haaland and other Man City players. Henry added that the win was “deserved” even though the award will not be announced till the last of this month. Micah Richards also chipped in, saying that had it been any other year, Haaland would have won it. But to win the World Cup with the pressure that Leo was on, deserves the award.

Henry concluded that Leo was the outright winner for him. He said: 

For me, Messi. Bye. Over.

If Messi is crowned winner on the 30th, it would be a record 8th Ballon d’Or, 3 more than any other player. Messi’s former coach, Pep Guardiola, told the Press that Haaland deserves to win, but Leo is the best of them all. He also happens to be Haaland’s current manager.

In case you missed: