Erling Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was asked in a recent interview about his son’s comments on Lionel Messi and the World Cup.
“I support everything Erling said,” Alf-Inge replied. “He was right to speak up. Messi has been protected for years. FIFA, the media, the sponsors they all built this image around him that no longer matches reality.”
He went further:
“My son wanted to face him properly and show the difference in levels. That chance never came, and I believe it was convenient for certain people. The way the 2023 Ballon d’Or was handled still bothers us. It felt arranged. Erling’s performances that year were ignored while the story stayed focused on Messi.”
Alf-Inge added:
“This idea that Messi is untouchable has gone on too long. Erling sees it, I see it, and a lot of people in football see it. The system has favoured him for too many years, and my son was simply tired of pretending otherwise.”