The Englishman has had a better season statistically - but is 125/1 best price to win the award...
Raheem Sterling had had a better season statistically than red-hot Ballon d’Or favourite Virgil van Dijk, leading football stats source WhoScored.com has claimed.
In their comprehensive player rankings since the start of the calendar year, Sterling has an average rating of 7.77, compared to the 7.37 given to van Dijk.
That pales in comparison to the betting odds today, with Sterling priced at a whopping 125/1 to win the award, compared to the 2/5 on offer for the Netherlands and Liverpool centre-back.
Van Dijk is scooping up the majority of bets in the market, with 44% of all bets backing the formidable defender. In comparison, Sterling has accrued just 2% of all bets in the same market.
WhoScored.com's 30-strong alternative longlist to the Ballon d'Or nominees include ten Premier League players, three Englishmen and just one centre-back.
The longlist has been compiled based on the football statistics experts' unique rating system across appearances in Europe's top five leagues, as well as the Champions and Europa League.
It should come as no surprise that said centre-back to make the grade is Virgil van Dijk, who is among the favourites for the top gong having helped Liverpool to Champions League glory last season.
Way out in front, however, is five-time winner Lionel Messi (8.35 rating), who led Barcelona to the title in LaLiga, scoring 29 goals and registering eight assists in 31 appearances across the league and Champions League in 2019.
Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski is the Argentine's closest challenger, back on 7.98, having notched 27 times for the Bundesliga champions in the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling is the highest-rated Premier League representative in fourth, having scored 19 goals and assisted a further seven for Manchester City this year, on route to a domestic treble.
Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson:" Raheem Sterling's rise to become one of the world's greatest footballers has been something to behold.
"Pep Guardiola has turned the England man into bona fide goal machine, and while Virgil van Dijk has been a colossus for Liverpool during their own ascent, Sterling's contribution to Manchester City's back-to-back Premier League titles cannot be understated.
"Not many would begrudge Sterling winning football's greatest individual prize."
To win the Ballon d'Or 2019:
Virgil van Dijk - 2/5
Lionel Messi - 2/1
Cristiano Ronaldo - 2/1
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