Ballon d’Or Winner Odds: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe Lead Race for Prestigious Honour
- The Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony is slated for October, and Lionel Messi has been tipped to claim the prize again
- The odds favour the Argentine, but Manchester City star Erling Haaland also has a chance of winning it
- Kylian Mbappe, who netted a World Cup final hat trick, and Kevin de Bruyne, who won a treble, can also win the award
The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner will be named in October, and many believe the prestigious award belongs to either Lionel Messi or Erling Haaland.
The prestigious prize is the most desired by any player who gets the anointing of the best footballer in the world by a panel of experts, international coaches and captains.
The rules have changed in 2022, as the award is now presented to the best player in a football season instead of a calendar year.
It could take a different dimension as the FIFA World Cup was held in between the 2022-2023 season, where a Lionel Messi captained Argentina claimed the title.
Erling Haaland was part of the Manchester City squad that won a treble at the just concluded campaign, making the race for the Ballon d’Or an interesting one, as per GOAL.
4. Kylian Mbappe – 66/1
Scoring a hat trick in a World Cup final is not an easy feat, but Mbappe might need to wait before he secures his first Ballon d’Or.
His side lost the final on penalties to Messi’s Argentina, but the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who scored eight goals in Qatar, took home the Golden Boot Award.
He has a 66/1 odds of winning this year’s prestigious prize, but it is surely only a matter of time before he lands the award.
3. Kevin De Bruyne – 40/1
The Belgian international finished third in the Ballon d’Or voting of 2022 and had a remarkable season, winning a treble.
De Bruyne has become an incredible part of the Manchester City attacking unit, registering 16 assists in 32 Premier League appearances in 2022-23.
He netted a total of ten goals in the last campaign, including City’s two crucial league wins over title rivals Arsenal.
The 32-year-old also struck a sensational equaliser to bring his side level in the Champions League first-leg semi-final against Real Madrid.
He has 40/1 odds of winning this year’s Ballon d’Or.
2. Erling Haaland – 9/4
Haaland looked good for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, but unfortunately for him, it comes at a period Lionel Messi won the World Cup.
Having led Manchester City to win a treble this season, Haaland has the right to claim the prize. The Norwegian scored 52 goals for Pep Guardiola’s side in the just-concluded season.
He broke the Premier League goalscoring record after netting 36 league goals this year.
His achievements this year cannot be understated, and he is possibly the best footballer in Europe at present and would be a worthy recipient of the Ballon d’Or.
1. Messi – 2/7
The Argentine superstar is set for his eighth Ballon d’Or, even though he had a disappointing end to his career at Paris Saint-Germain.
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The 36-year-old, who recently joined Inter Miami, had a spectacular year leading Argentina to a spectacular 2022 World Cup triumph in December.
Messi scored seven goals at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, one behind Kylian Mbappe, as he also made three assists during the Mundial.
How Ballon d’Or voting works
Sports Brief earlier reported that the Ballon d’Or is arguably the most impressive individual award in football, reserved for the creme de la creme of the sport, a privilege that only a few footballers have been able to experience in their careers.
Lionel Messi is the record holder, having garnered seven titles, two more than his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having won the World Cup with Argentina last year, one gets the feeling that another title might be on its way for the Argentine.
