Erling Haaland needs to leave Manchester City to win Ballon d’Or, claims journalist | OneFootball

Erling Haaland needs to leave Manchester City to stand a chance to win the Ballon d’Or, it has been claimed by a journalist in Spain.

The 25-year-old has been in sensational scoring form this term and has been the most force of power behind Manchester City’s resurgence to form in recent months – after a lousy start to the 2025-26 Premier League campaign marked by losses to Tottenham and Brighton.

Haaland has scored 12 times in all competitions for Manchester City this season, solidifying himself further as arguably the greatest goalscorer in world football as Pep Guardiola and co look to win a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.

Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the Leeds-born striker has taken his game to a new level and spearheaded City to their premier UEFA Champions League title as part of a historic treble in his debut season at the Etihad Stadium.

However, despite being one of favourites to win the Ballon d’Or in 2023 in the backdrop of a scintillating campaign with Manchester City, Haaland lost out to Lionel Messi after the 38-year-old led Argentina to glory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

As Haaland enters the prime of his professional career, the forward has been advised to leave Manchester City to stand a chance of winning the Ballon d’Or, with Norway in touching distance of qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Norway, rather than being a problem, could be an opportunity for Haaland,” said journalist Miguel Quintana in conversation with Marca this week, as relayed by Sport Witness.

“Haaland has lost his cachet at Manchester City. City won the Champions League (in 2023) and Haaland didn’t win the Ballon d’Or. The following year, a City player (Rodri) did win it, but it wasn’t him.

“City’s style has reduced him to a specialist, more in the box than anything else. It’s the simplest and least self-sufficient version. He still scores a goal per game wherever he plays, but I think because of all this, we feel Haaland isn’t as good as we thought.

“In the Champions League, he hasn’t made a difference in the most important matches, especially in the knockout stages against Real Madrid.

“He’s behind (Kylian) Mbappé, now also Lamine Yamal, perhaps Harry Kane, and it remains to be seen if he’s even behind midfielders like Pedri. Norway can be an opportunity because a good performance with the national team can give him the cachet and prestige, he can’t fully achieve at Manchester City right now.”

Haaland penned a 10-year contract at the Etihad Stadium in January that is set to keep the high-flying forward in Manchester City colours till the summer of 2034, with the 25-year-old believed to be the most handsomely paid player in the Premier League.