Okashhe Ballon d'Or is a significant award presented by “France Football” magazine and one of the most prestigious football awards. Let's review the betting odds for the 2021 winner.
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Latest Ballon d'Or Betting Odds
As we edge closer to the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, we now have a more accurate idea as to who the Ballon d'Or favourites are. Most fans think they've had the winner sussed for several months now but until it's done and dusted there is always room for a shock. With that in mind, let’s have a look at the Ballon d’Or odds for the most likely winners right now!
The much-anticipated return of the Ballon d'Or is upon us and the odds on the next winner of the prestigious award have started to surface, but just who are the bookmakers backing and why? With a World Cup and a club having completed a historic treble last season there is a particular domination in the likely contenders.
Current Ballon d'Or favourites
Now it's time to take a closer look at the players ranking high in the current odds for the next Ballon d'Or winner. We're going to look at the year some of the top ranked players have had and what they have achieved this year that makes them a serious contender for the 2023 Ballon d'Or.
Lionel Messi
Current odds: 1/10
Lionel Messi is a shoo-in to win the Ballon d'Or this year, which will see him collect his eighth title. Lots was made of Messi stepping away from Barcelona when he struggled somewhat during his first year in France with PSG. His second year in Ligue 1 was a different story though – and it's the one that matters for this round of Ballon d'Or voting. Of course, there was a bigger tournament taking place in this voting year too in the shape of the World Cup and that tournament became all about Messi as he steered Argentina to glory in Qatar. The fact Ballon d'Or voting opened the day after the final further feeds narrative that Messi will breeze to this award whilst you can see how heavily adored the player is with the fact he's up for MLS player of the year right now despite having played just a couple of hundred minutes in the competition since joining Inter Miami.
Erling Haaland
Current odds: 9/2
If Messi was going to be stopped this year it was going to take an extraordinary performance from someone and Erling Haaland has certainly delivered an extraordinary year. Haaland scored a goal every 79 minutes as he racked up an almighty tally of 52 goals in just 53 matches and, in doing so, he was a vital cog in the Man City machine that won the treble consisting of the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League. The Messi popularity factor means Haaland won't win this award (it would be a minor miracle if he does). You have to feel sorry for Haaland though because it's feasible he never has another season like this and, taking popularity out of it, he provably deserves to scoop the award ahead of Messi (Sorry Messi fans. We love Messi too but it's true!).
Ballon d'Or Outsiders
Beyond Messi and Haaland, you're looking at serious outside picks to snatch the Ballon d'Or crown. Here we look at some of the players who might cause a shock.
Kevin De Bruyne
We've already waxed lyrical about Haaland's goalscoring but he wouldn't have had nearly as many opportunities without the ever excellent Kevin de Bruyne supplying him from Man City's midfield. De Bruyne's ability to open up defences is second to none in world football and with a trio of trophies in his cabinet in the year he is likely to feature on a fair few nominations!
Kylian Mbappe
Messi might have got his hands on that World Cup trophy but Kylian Mbappe did everything he could to bring the trophy to France. The PSG star exploded into life during the final to bag a hat-trick; it made him only the second player of all time to score three goals in the showpiece match. With that game under his belt alongside a Ligue 1 title and prolonged transfer chat keeping him in the headlines you never know!
Victor Osimhen
Last but not least we look at Victor Osimhen. The Napoli striker earned rave reviews throughout the season as his goals carried Napoli to a historic Serie A title; it was their first title win since a Maradona inspired triumph back in 1990 and it saw floods of fans take to the streets of Naples. With Osimhen hitting 26 league goals he elevated himself to sit amongst the most feared goalscorers in the world. With the time between titles and the Maradona link, football romantics may well gravitate towards Osimhen's name.
Golden Ball Outright Betting Markets
Ballon d'Or Winner
Odds for the winner are the most popular type of Ballon d'Or bets, and people would have put their money on this market most. The thrill of predicting the winner has always been one of the most popular types of markets in sports betting, and that won't change in the future. The odds for these types of outright markets are better than others, especially if you place the wager months in advance.
Ballon d'Or Second (Silver Ball) and Third (Bronze Ball) Places
Alongside the Golden Ball winner, France Football also presents second and third place awards called the “Silver” and “Bronze” ball. They are awarded to the second and third most accomplished footballers throughout the year. Except for the first place, these two markets are also popular amongst punters. Some bookmakers even let punters request bets, like “To Finish in Top Three for Ballon d'Or” or something similar.
Best Places to Bet on the Golden Ball
Established bookmakers offer odds and markets on the Golden Ball each year, and we are glad to give you a shortlist of the best bookmakers you can bet with when the time comes.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes is an excellent choice because they have one of the best online and mobile platforms for online betting in the UK. They also have numerous betting shops you can go to place football bets. Ladbrokes platform offers a wide array of sports and markets to choose from, including outright markets for many competitions. You can also use one of the betting features available to all customers or benefit from bonuses, promotions, and games for existing customers.
Betfair
Betfair is one of the more popular bookmakers in the UK, and they offer a wide array of services on their platform, including a Sportsbook, a Betting Exchange, Online Casino, Live Casino, and more. They provide attractive welcome offers for each of the available platforms. They regularly offer bonuses to customers, especially around the prevalent competitions, like the Premier League finals, FIFA World Cup finals, etc.
Bet365
Bet365 provides a wide array of options to their customers, including betting on popular and not-so-popular sports. Bet365 also provides plenty of betting features you can use to increase your chances of winning, like live streaming and in-play betting, edit bet, cash-out, bet builder, etc. Some punters might even say that Bet365 offers the best odds on certain events than most bookmakers, but nowadays, there are so many new bookies, and odds change daily, so sometimes they have better odds and sometimes they don't.
William Hill
William Hill is one of the oldest bookmakers in the UK, and they have plenty of experience with online and in-store betting. They provide an attractive online platform, and their welcome bonus is competitive and one of the best. WH is known for providing some of the best bonuses for existing customers, including the daily odds boosts and ACCA boosts. You can browse their wide selection of markets for various sports and competitions and choose the best ones.
Betfred
Betfred is a well-known name in sports and sports betting. They provide one of the best online platforms and have a unique website design. Compared to other bookmakers, they might not have the most extensive library of betting markets and sports. Still, they offer quality bonuses for new and existing customers, including their attractive welcome offer. You can also use some of their betting features to have a better chance at winning.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Ballon d'Or
Who won the Golden Ball last year?
In 2022, Karim Benzema won the Golden Ball award. Second place went to Sadio Mane, while Kevin De Bruyne got third place.
Who has won the Ballon d'Or most times?
Lionel Messi has won the Golden Ball seven times in his career, the current record, followed closely by Ronaldo with five wins.
When is the Ballon d'Or usually presented?
The Golden Ball award is due to be presented on 30th October.
Is the Ballon d'Or going to be presented next year?
FIFA has no plans to cancel the Golden Ball award next year, and we think that as long as there aren't any significant competition cancellations like in 2020, FIFA will present the award in 2023.
Who decides who the winner of the Ballon d'Or will be?
The shortlist of players to choose from is created by a select committee, while the actual winner is selected by media representatives who are football experts in their field.
last update : December 2023
