Matthaus brands Ballon d'Or a FARCE: Man City striker Haaland deserved it!

Germany World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus has slammed Lionel Messi being awarded this year's Ballon d'Or.

Argentina's World Cup winning skipper was given the award for the eighth time in his career.

But Matthaus insists Manchester City striker Erling Haaland deserved the gong ahead of the Barcelona great.

"Haaland has done better than Messi throughout the year," Matthaus told Sky Deutschland.

"This award is not deserved and it proves that the WC means more than anything. For me, no one was better than Haaland, he has been the best in the last twelve months. He won important titles with Manchester City and set goalscoring records.

"It was a farce even though I have always been a Messi fan."