Erling Braut Haaland Skips Ballon d'Or Ceremony in London
Norwegian striker Erling Braut Haaland will not attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday evening, according to the national team's media chief Morten Morisbak Skjønsberg. His absence was confirmed to VG, and Instagram posts suggest he is not in England. Haaland is among the 30 nominees following a strong season with Manchester City and a notable World Cup performance for Norway. The men's award race is considered unusually uncertain, with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal leading the latest odds. This marks the second consecutive year Haaland has skipped the ceremony, having finished second to Lionel Messi in 2023. Last year, he instead traveled to Sweden to watch his friend Erik Botheim secure the Allsvenskan title with Malmö.