Former Premier League stars Joe Cole and Joleon Lescott have disagreed on who they believe will lift the prestigious Ballon d'Or trophy at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday, October 30.

The Ballon d'Or is the football world's highest individual award and was previously awarded to the person with the best player performance during the calendar year but has now been changed to the previous season. It means that those able to vote will cast their judgement based on the entire 2022/23 season after the rules were changed in March last year.

The general consensus for this year is that either Inter Miami and Argentina forward Lionel Messi or Manchester City's Erling Haaland will win the award. Messi is going for his eighth Ballon d’Or victory after leading his country to their third World Cup, while Haaland is hoping to win his first having been crowned UEFA’s Player of the Year, the FWA's Footballer of the Year and the Premier League's Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Golden Boot awards.

Also nominated for the award are Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, who helped the Gunners pose a significant title challenge to Man City last season with the pair netting 15 goals each in all competitions. Former Tottenham striker Harry Kane is also nominated, alongside the likes of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Man City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Former City defender Lescott has explained why he believes it'll be Haaland picking up the honour for the first time rather than Messi. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "There’s been years when Messi has won the treble and scored 50 goals.

"There was never a doubt that he wasn’t going to win and now someone else has done it in a league that’s never been done before. I find it hard to look past Erling Haaland for that reason because he's done it in a league where not many people score 50 goals a season in.

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"He's also helped win a treble for a team that's never achieved anything like that before. So for me, that supersedes everything [Messi has achieved] even though I know Joe has a different argument!"

Cole then interjected, arguing that despite Haaland's fantastic achievements, he believes Messi's performances in the World Cup over the winter. He said: "What Messi done at the World Cup and it looks like FIFA, because of the change of the dates, are putting that in this section.

"I just think that was just outstanding, almost spiritual. The one question people had over Messi was 'was he a leader?' Forget the goals and the assists, the way he led that team of young players by the way, and he drove them, and there were so many moments where they could’ve been going out.

"I just think it was the cherry on the cake for probably the outstanding football career we’ve seen. I think it put to bed the Ronaldo-Messi argument.

"On top of that, he won the league with PSG, scored some massive goals, and then what he’s done for Miami when he’s gone there. If I was Haaland and I don’t win it, I’d be devastated but the only one way I could swallow it is if it’s Messi picking up the trophy."

Cole then concluded his case admitting that both players are deserving of the award, and jokingly hinting at a historic shared victory. He said: "Maybe a joint winner this year."