Haaland skips the Ballon d’Or to watch a friend win the Swedish title

Norway’s Erling Haaland is one of the best players in the world, but he won’t be in Paris on Monday when the Ballon d’Or is given out. He’d rather go to Sweden with his friend Erik Botheim to watch Malmo FF win the league.

The 24-year-old Manchester City striker was seen in Malmö early on Monday evening, before their game against IFK Gothenburg, a team they hate. If they won, it would be their second straight Allsvenskan title and their fourth in five years.

While playing for Norway’s junior national team, Haaland and Botheim became friends. They were also in a rap video with Erik Sandberg that has been watched over 12 million times on YouTube.

Last season, Haaland scored 27 goals in 31 games to help City win the Premier League title again. He came in second place at the 2023 Ballon d’Or event, behind Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Botheim, who is also a striker, will start against Malmo on Monday at 1910 CET (1810 GMT), 50 minutes before the Ballon d’Or ceremony.