HOT HEIR BALLON

..and if Erling misses out he should snub awards for life!

- KEITH WEBSTER

ERLING HAALAND has been told to snub the Ballon d'Or ceremony for life if he is not handed this year's award.

Haaland is one of seven Manchester City players on the 30-man shortlist for the annual gong, which will be revealed in Paris on October 30.

For the first time in 20 years there is no place on the list for five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

But old adversary Lionel Messi (right), who has won the award seven times, is already many people's favourite to make that eight next month after Argentina's World Cup victory in Qatar last December.

But former Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Craig Burley reckons there should be only one name on the minds of anyone when it comes to handing over the Ballon d'Or trophy.