Ballon d'Or Odds: Who Will Win The Award In 2023?
After Lionel Messi won the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award at a ceremony recently, online bookmakers have turned their attention to the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
The long-running prize, which has been in existence since 1956, was previously awarded to the footballer with the highest level of performance over the preceding calendar year.
But ahead of the 2022 vote, the organisers switched their focus to the previous season.
That means this year’s prize will go to the player judged to have been better than the rest of his peers throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
Once we have reached the end of June, there is nothing more the contenders can do to strengthen their case.
Let’s take a look at the latest betting odds, before considering who might win the honour this year.
Ballon d'Or Odds 2023
Messi Odds-On Favourite To Scoop Prize Again
Lionel Messi has already won more Ballons d’Or than any other player in the history of the game.
The Argentina international triumphed in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021, and he is the odds-on favourite at 1/5 with football betting sites to add another award to his substantial collection later this year.
As things stand, it is hard to see anyone other than Messi coming out on top. He inspired his country to glory at the World Cup in Qatar, the most significant event of the 2022/23 season.
Messi was named Player of the Tournament after scoring seven goals and providing three assists for Argentina, who were crowned world champions for the first time since 1986.
Haaland’s Goals Put Him In Frame For The Award
Erling Haaland has had an extraordinary start to his Manchester City career.
The Norway international is on course to shatter a whole host of goalscoring records in the Premier League, as he attempts to fire Pep Guardiola’s side to their fifth title in the last six years.
Haaland's odds in the betting stand at 5/1, and he could have the edge on the Frenchman when it comes to the Champions League after PSG got knocked out by Bayern Munich.
City are the bookies’ favourite to triumph in that competition, and while that is no guarantee of anything, they are in a good position as things stand.
Were Haaland to score the winner in the final, for example, he could challenge Messi for the Ballon d’Or.
Mbappe Could Challenge His PSG Team-Mate
Kylian Mbappe was unfortunate to end up on the losing side in the World Cup final.
The French superstar scored a stunning hat-trick against Argentina, then converted his penalty in the shoot-out, but it was not quite enough for Didier Deschamps’ side to avoid defeat.
Still, he did enough in Qatar to be in contention to win the Ballon d’Or, for which Mbappe's odds are currently set at 11/1.
But after PSG bowed out of the Champions League tamely to Bayern Munich recently Mbappe is up against it and his odds have drifted from 15/2 to 11/1.
Benzema An Outsiders To Retain Ballon d’Or
Karim Benzema was deservedly chosen as the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner after a superb season for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman scored 44 goals in all competitions and helped the Blancos win a La Liga-Champions League double, so it is no surprise that he finished comfortably clear of Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.
However, he will find it tough to follow in the footsteps of Johan Cruyff, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, all of whom claimed the prize in back-to-back years.
The Madrid striker is available at 18/1 to finish on top of the pile once more.
Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford is in the form of his career, with his goals shortening Manchester United's quadruple odds.
The England forward also made an impression at the World Cup, but Ladbrokes have priced Rashford up at 20/1 so he's not considered to have a serious chance at winning the Ballon d'or this season.
De Bruyne, Vinicius And Neymar Among Those Not Expected To Win
Kevin De Bruyne has been in and out of the Manchester City team of late.
He will probably be a regular starter again throughout the business end of the season, but it will be difficult for the Belgium international to outshine Haaland.
De Bruyne came third last year but is a rank outsider at 33/1 this time around with betting apps.
Vinicius Junior looks like a more interesting pick, also at 33/1 with various bookmakers.
Few would bet against Real Madrid winning another Champions League given their tremendous track record in the competition, and the Brazilian has already started the knockout stage brightly.
However, Brazil’s quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Qatar could ultimately count against Vinicius, as well as his international colleague Neymar (50/1).
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