"It [the Ballon d'Or] will most likely be between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling [Haaland]. Then there are also the outsiders just behind them," Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has told VG.
"If you ask me who I think will win, I will say that Messi will win it because of the World Cup triumph. It always has an impact. Mbappe was there too.
"Erling, however, won top scorer accolades, broke records and won the Player of the Year in every category in England, plus he won the Champions League," the 55-year-old also said.
Messi is indeed considered the hottest favourite to win his 8th Ballon d'Or. The 36-year-old won the World Cup and registered plenty of goal contributions for Paris Saint-Germain, also claiming the Ligue 1 title.
Erling Haaland won the treble with Manchester City and broke multiple goalscoring records last season.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place in October.
