2023 Ballon d’Or Odds: World Cup Win Puts Messi
Messi and Haaland Head and Shoulders Above Pack
Messi Going for Record Eighth Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or is world soccer’s most coveted individual award and Lionel Messi has won it a record seven times. Messi is very much in the running for an eighth win, as voters are instructed to consider the period from August 1st, 2022 to July 31st, 2023 instead of the calendar year. It could certainly be the first and last time an Inter Miami, or MLS, player wins the award. There are other strong candidates for the award and we’ll take a look at them and the 2023 Ballon d’Or odds.
World Cup Win Puts Messi Ahead
Virtually the only thing missing in Lionel Messi’s illustrious career was a FIFA World Cup trophy. The Argentina captain did his best to change that at Qatar 2022 as he was at his best. En route to a thrilling title win in penalties over France, Messi scored two goals in the final and seven in the tournament altogether. With seven goals and three assists, Messi won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
He also delivered Argentina their first World Cup trophy since 1986. While Messi may be joining MLS shortly, he played a big role in Paris Saint-Germain’s record 11th title as well. Messi was more provider than a goalscorer in the 2022-23 season as he led Ligue 1 with 16 assists. The 2023 Ballon d’Or odds price Messi as an overwhelming -350 favorite.
Haaland Breaks EPL Record
Any offseason debates of Erling Haaland vs Darwin Nunez were quickly settled as Haaland adapted to life in the Premier League immediately. The former Borussia Dortmund man joined Man City last Summer for over $60 million and hit the ground running. We simply don’t have enough space to list all of the records the Norwegian striker broke this season.
Most prominently, Haaland scored 36 goals in the Premier League, which is more than any other player has managed in a single season. He also scored 52 goals in all competitions, which is more than any other Premier League player has scored in a season. Haaland’s goals were crucial in Manchester City winning the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and the Champions League.
He was the Champions League’s top scorer this season, with 12 goals. He became the fastest player to reach 30 career European Tournament goals in the process. Despite all of these ridiculous achievements, Haaland comes in at just +200 odds to win the award.
Kevin de Bruyne Forms Dynamic Duo With Haaland
Manchester City could not have won the treble without the stellar Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian superstar registered 32 assists in all competitions in 2022-23 en route to EPL, FA Cup, and Champions League wins. However, he suffered some bad luck in the UCL final and had to exit the match early due to injury.
De Bruyne sits at +2500 Ballon d’Or odds and being Erling Haaland’s teammate certainly doesn’t help his case here. Plus, his Belgium embarrassingly exited the World Cup much earlier than expected.
Mbappe Scores World Cup Final Hat-Trick
Kylian Mbappe nearly powered France to back-to-back World Cup titles. He now has the distinction of being just the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. He’s also the first player to score a hat-trick in the final and end up on the losing side. With eight goals in Qatar 2022, Mbappe won the Golden Boot over former PSG teammate Lionel Messi.
Mbappe also won a fourth straight Ligue 1 Golden Boot as he helped PSG win the Ligue 1 title. Still, the 2023 Ballon d’Or odds price Mbappe at just +8000 odds to win the Ballon d’Or. Even so, he has a strong claim due to his magnificent performances for both club and country.
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