Lionel Messi is the odds on favourite in the latest Ballon d'or odds market ahead of the confirmation of the shortlist of nominees for the award.
Seven-time winner Lionel Messi is the huge favourite to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or despite swapping European football with PSG for MLS side Inter Miami this summer.
Despite being an instant hit in the US, Messi's prospects are only strengthened by the change to the timeline for the award - which first came into effect last year.
The Ballon d'Or winner is now selected based on performances from the previous football season (in this case 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2023), rather than the calendar year.
The shortlist of nominees for the award will be confirmed later today (Wednesday 6th September), with the Ballon d'Or ceremony taking place in Paris on Monday 30th October).
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Who is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or 2023?
Lionel Messi is the huge favourite (best price 1/5) to succeed 2022 winner Karim Benzema and win the Ballon d'Or in Paris next month at an implied chance of 83.3%.
The 36-year-old won the Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions with PSG to go with his World Cup success with Argentina. Messi finished the World Cup with seven goals, behind only Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe (eight).
Mbappe himself can be backed at a huge 100/1 on Paddy Power despite landing the same two domestic prizes as Messi and driving Les Bleus to the World Cup final in Qatar.
Second behind Messi is Manchester City marksman Erling Haaland, who powered his side to a treble in 2022/23 including a record 36 goals in the Premier League.
His City colleagues and fellow treble winners Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne (both 80/1) are the only other potential nominees with a best price shorter than 100/1 to win the award in Paris.
Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or Odds
Lionel Messi is a best price 1/5 with Unibet to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday 30th October. He is a shortest price 1/12 at the time of writing with both bet365 and William Hill.
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2023 Ballon d’Or Odds
| Player | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 1/5 | 1/14 |
| Erling Haaland | 13/2 | 10/3 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 80/1 | 30/1 |
| Rodri | 80/1 | 40/1 |
