BERNARDO SILVA believes that Erling Haaland won’t claim the Ballon d’Or over Lionel Messi – unless Manchester City win the Champions League.

The prestigious award is handed out at the end of the calendar year to the world’s finest footballer – and there are no shortage of candidates so far.

Many would back Haaland to follow up his Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award with the Ballon d’Or after his stunning debut season in England.

The Norwegian forward has broken the Premier League record for most goals in a single season and still has three games add more strikes to his tally.

But over in France Messi has recaptured his best form at PSG – even as transfer speculation continues to distract from his exploits.

Silva has a theory about what it would take for his 22-year-old teammate to stop Messi winning yet another individual honour.

He told France Football: “If Haaland wins Premier League and Champions League, you can put him in the Ballon d’Or discussion, and you can also talk about Vini Jr. if Madrid win the Champions League.

“In general, it is between Messi and the winner of the Champions League, and so far, I will give it to Messi.”

Man City are within three wins of capturing both the Premier League and the Champions League, and within four wins of doing the treble.

Haaland has played a major role in their fight for glory with a staggering 52 goals across all competitions.

But seven-times Ballon d’Or winner Messi will be keen to nab another honour – even though he will be 36 by the time the historic award will be dished out.

He has 15 goals and 15 assists in 29 Ligue 1 appearances this season.

While European success is beyond his reach this season, only four more points is needed for Messi and his teammates to land another title.

SOURCE: thesun.co.uk