Erling Haaland is shortlisted for BBC World Sport Star of the Year award after scoring 52 goals in treble-winning season… but Man City goal machine faces competition from Max Verstappen and Novak Djokovic
- Erling Haaland won the treble in his first season at Manchester City
- Max Verstappen, Novak Djokovic and Aitana Bonmati were also shortlisted
- CHRIS SUTTON: I would have been angry like Erling Haaland, but why did it take six or seven City players going to the referee? It all starts
Erling Haaland has been announced as one of six contenders for the BBC World Sport Star of the Year award.
The Treble-winning Manchester City forward will face fellow footballer Aitana Bonmati, who won the Women's World Cup with Spain and the Champions League with Barcelona.
Three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and South African Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi have also been nominated.
Novak Djokovic, who won three of the four tennis majors this year, and gymnast Simone Biles, who won four gold medals at the World Championships, make up the rest of the six-person shortlist.
The winner will be chosen by public vote on the BBC Sport website and will be announced during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show on December 19.
Erling Haaland has been announced as one of six contenders for the BBC World Sport Star of the Year award after a stellar debut season with Manchester City
If Haaland were to add the award to his ever-growing list of honours, he would emulate Lionel Messi, who landed the gong last year after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.
The only other footballers to have been crowned BBC World Sport Star of the Year (formerly BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year) are Eusebio (1966), Pele (1970), Ronaldo (2002) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2014).
Haaland, who scored 52 goals in all competitions last season, will not be available to attend the show in Salford as City are in action in the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia that evening.
Haaland is joined on the shortlist by (from left to right) Simone Biles, Max Verstappen, Siya Kolisi, Alana Bonmati and Novak Djokovic
The shortlist for the top BBC Sports Personality of the Year award has not yet been announced.
But England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps is the current bookmakers' favorite to win the same gong that her international team-mate Beth Mead won last year.
England's Ashes hero Stuart Broad is second favourite, ahead of world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
The BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award goes to snowboarder Mia Brookes, archery's Penny Healey and wheelchair basketball player Charlie McIntyre.
