Ballon d’Or Contender Erling Haaland Gives 'Ice Cold' Response to 'Rivalry' With Kylian Mbappe

• Erling Haaland has offered insights into his relationship with Kylian Mbappe
• The Manchester City striker shared his perspective on their supposed rivalry
• The pair are among the 30 players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or award

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Erling Haaland has responded to the idea of enacting a rivalry between himself and Kylian Mbappe, akin to the legendary tussles between Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi.

Haaland and Mbappe are often considered the current torchbearers of football and the heirs apparent to the Ronaldo-Messi 'greatest of all time' throne.

Both players have also been named in the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or awards, with the Manchester City striker aiming for his first global accolade after an exceptional campaign with the Premier League champions last season.

The Norwegian striker's proficiency in front of the goal helped inspire Pep Guardiola's team to a historic treble, making him a strong contender for the prestigious award alongside 2022 World Cupwinner, Messi, per talkSPORT.

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Mbappe, on the other hand, also enjoyed a fruitful year under review, narrowly missing out on World Cup glory with France while helping PSG secure the Ligue 1title, accumulating individual accolades along the way.

When asked about the potential rivalry between him and PSG's all-time top scorer in the years to come, Haaland stated he did not see the Frenchman as a rival, underlining the mutual respect between the two players during an interview with France Football.

Haaland also paid respect to both Messi and Ronaldofor continuing to achieve greatness even in the latter years of their respective