Who Will Win The Ballon d'Or 2023? Here's The Latest Odds
Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d’Or only last month, but betting sites will soon be turning their attention towards next year’s award.
For the first time in the history of the prestigious prize, votes for the 2022 award covered the 2021/22 season rather than the calendar year.
Benzema romped home in first place with 549 points, ahead of Sadio Mane (193), Kevin De Bruyne (175), Robert Lewandowski (170) and Mohamed Salah (116).
So, who are the contenders to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or? Let’s take a look at some of the names in the frame.
Neymar
World Cup betting sites have Brazil favourites to win in Qatar, which will surely have a huge bearing on next year’s Ballon d’Or.
Neymar is Brazil’s talisman and he has a strong chance of surpassing Pele to become the country’s all-time record goalscorer in Qatar.
The forward has been in fine form for Paris Saint-Germain, fuelling hope that this could finally be the season in which the French giants end their long wait for the Champions League.
Neymar could potentially be overshadowed by some high-profile team-mates if PSG do get over the line, so the World Cup would be a more significant prize for him.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland will be absent from Qatar this month after Norway’s failure to qualify, so that could count against him in the Ballon d’Or vote.
But the striker has enjoyed a sensational start to his Manchester City career, scoring 22 goals in his first 16 games. If he stays fit, Haaland should smash various Premier League records this term.
The one thing missing from City’s trophy cabinet is a Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side have fallen short in a variety of ways in recent years, but the presence of Haaland increases their chances of getting the job done this season.
A Champions League triumph would perhaps make the Norwegian the Ballon d’Or favourite.
Kevin De Bruyne
On a similar note, Kevin De Bruyne’s chances on the best football betting sites would be boosted if Manchester City go on to lift the Champions League trophy.
The Belgium international is still the beating heart of Guardiola’s team, and although he has arguably been overshadowed by Haaland, De Bruyne has the added advantage of being at the World Cup.
Not much is expected of Belgium in Qatar, but every manager in the competition would take De Bruyne in their starting XI if they could.
The midfielder finished third in the 2022 vote, so he is already knocking on the door.
Lionel Messi
No footballer in history has won as many Ballons d’Or as Messi, who has been chosen as world No.1 on seven occasions.
After a difficult maiden campaign at PSG, the Argentina international has made a strong start to the season and will no doubt be integral to his club’s Champions League aspirations.
Messi’s focus is now on the World Cup, where he will be hoping to lead Argentina to glory for the first time since 1986 having inspired his country to Copa America success last year.
Should he do that, Messi will take some stopping in the Ballon d’Or vote and then he will be one of the leading candidates in the odds on Australia betting sites to take it home.
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe does not seem to be entirely happy with life at PSG, despite the fact he signed a bumper new contract a few months back.
He continues to do the business on the pitch, though: his first 17 appearances in all competitions this season have yielded 17 goals.
Mbappe lit up the 2018 World Cup and was voted as the tournament’s best young player after France lifted the trophy.
He will be even more key to les Bleus’ chances in Qatar, where another triumph would lift Mbappe towards the top of the list of Ballon d’Or contenders.
Robert Lewandowski
Unlike most of the names on this list, Lewandowski will not be targeting World Cup glory this winter.
A more realistic aim for Poland is to get out of the group and, at a stretch, into the quarter-finals.
That harms Lewandowski’s chances on of winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time, as does the fact that Barcelona are already out of the Champions League.
No matter how many goals he scores in La Liga, Lewandowski is unlikely to scoop the prize on his domestic efforts alone.
Cristiano Ronaldo
A long shot given he is not even a guaranteed starter at Manchester United these days, Cristiano Ronaldo cannot entirely be ruled out of the Ballon d’Or race at this stage.
If the 37-year-old can lead Portugal to their first ever World Cup next month, the clamour for him to be a leading candidate would be strong.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, may also benefit if voters equate the ballot with a lifetime achievement award.
However, anything less than a World Cup win for Portugal would surely rule him out.
Karim Benzema
Only seven players – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Johan Cruyff - have ever won back-to-back Ballons d’Or, so Benzema will have his work cut out to retain the prize.
The Real Madrid striker has endured an injury-hit start to the season, but he should be fully fit for the World Cup.
France are one of the favourites punters will be using their World Cup free bets on in Qatar and Real Madrid will be there or thereabouts in the Champions League.
If his teams can win one or both of those tournaments, Benzema will be in a strong position.
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