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Erling Haaland has been advised on what it will take for him to secure the Ballon d’Or, with John Arne Riise telling GOAL that the Manchester City striker needs to score an “enormous number of goals” before he can be recognised as the best footballer in the world. The Norwegian forward has consistently delivered impressive goal tallies and is widely regarded as the natural successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to the Golden Ball honour.

Haaland missed out on the 2023 Ballon d’Or, finishing behind Messi in the final vote.

The Manchester City star believed his performances in the 2022-23 season were worthy of the coveted trophy, after finding the back of the net 52 times in a remarkable debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium. That season saw City claim a historic treble by lifting the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League titles.

However, that campaign coincided with the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Argentine legend Messi led his national team to victory in spectacular fashion. His inspiring performances helped Argentina clinch the world title, ultimately earning him his eighth Ballon d’Or when the votes were tallied.

Haaland is now preparing to represent Norway at the 2026 World Cup.

Although he finished as runner-up to Messi, Haaland has not returned to the Ballon d’Or podium since. Despite that, he continues to produce record-breaking performances for Manchester City, reaching 100 Premier League goals in just 111 matches—a milestone achieved faster than any player before him.

In total, Haaland has scored 162 goals for City across 198 appearances and is on course to claim his third Premier League Golden Boot. The upcoming summer will also give him the opportunity to shine on the international stage, as Norway makes its return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

How can the Manchester City striker become a Ballon d’Or winner?

The 25-year-old forward continues to perform under immense pressure, but the question remains whether he can eventually capture football’s most prestigious individual prize. When asked about Haaland’s chances, former Liverpool defender and fellow Norwegian John Arne Riise—speaking to GOAL in association with BetVictor Online Casino—explained: “There are so many great young players coming through right now.”

Riise added, “I think Erling should have already won it a few years ago. But if he’s going to win it now, he needs to be in a system where he scores an incredible number of goals. You have players like Lamine Yamal and Michael Olise, who produce flashy skills that attract attention. These players are getting noticed more for their style on the pitch.”

He continued, “But if Erling keeps scoring goals at the rate he does, he’ll be impossible to ignore. He’s already scored a huge number this season. People say he’s had an average year, but his goal numbers are still unbelievable. To win the Ballon d’Or, he probably needs to break the Premier League goal-scoring record and achieve even more. Then, he’ll definitely win it.”

Guardiola departure: Haaland to work under a new manager

Manchester City fell short of the Premier League title this season, losing out to Arsenal, and were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League. As a result, Haaland is not considered among the top favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

When asked previously whether winning the Ballon d’Or motivates him, Haaland responded, “I think everyone cares about it. But I don’t think it’s good to constantly think about it. If you and your team play well, you’ll perform, you’ll win trophies, and naturally, you’ll find yourself on the list.”

Maintaining that attitude could serve Haaland well as he continues his pursuit of the sport’s most iconic individual award. His efforts during the 2026-27 season will unfold under new leadership at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola set to conclude his highly successful decade-long tenure as the club’s manager.