Pep Guardiola feels Erling Haaland deserved to win the Ballon d’Or this year, but believes his main opponent Lionel Messi should have a stranglehold on the title.

Haaland and seven-time champion Messi are the favorites to win the tournament in Paris later this month.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was clearly split between his 52-goal striker from last season’s record Treble and the finest player he has ever managed.

‘I always said that the Ballon d’Or had to be two sections: one for Messi and one for the others,’ Guardiola said. ‘Haaland should win, yes, after scoring 50 million goals.

‘But of course Messi, if you tell me the worst season of Messi it is the best for the rest of them. Both deserve it.

City, who have lost their past two Premier League games, face ‘one of the toughest’ tests of the season on Saturday against Brighton.

Guardiola admires Roberto De Zerbi and is concerned about the threat they will offer at the Etihad Stadium.