Despite Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s record-breaking season in the Premier League, Lionel Messi is the betting favorite to win another Ballon d’Or later this year.
Messi is currently set at -303 (1-3) to win a record eighth Ballon d’Or, according to Odds Checker. The award is given to the finest player in international soccer throughout the course of the year, as voted for by coaches, captains, and journalists around the world.
The Argentina captain, who has had a spectacular start to his Inter Miami career during the past month, is well ahead of Haaland in the betting after scoring 10 goals in his first seven games for the American team.
Despite his incredible season in England, where he broke the record for the most goals in a single Premier League season with 36, Haaland is valued at +760 (38-5) to win his first Ballon d’Or.
Overall, the Norwegian prodigy scored 52 goals in 53 games for City, helping Pep Guardiola’s team win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League for the first time.
Lionel Messi is favorite with the bookmakers to win yet another Ballon d’Or award this year
That is despite Erling Haaland enjoying a record-breaking campaign with Manchester City
Messi has had a strong start in Miami, scoring 10 goals in his first seven games.
Messi, on the other hand, scored just 21 goals in 41 appearances with PSG before departing in disgrace and signing with Miami in the summer.
After sparking Inter’s triumph in the League Cup final last weekend, the 36-year-old has already tasted success since moving to the United States.
Nonetheless, Tata Martino’s team remains at the bottom of the MLS, with Messi still to appear after playing seven straight League Cup matches.
Haaland is coming off an unforgettable season with Treble winners City, but the ceremony is still less than two months away, on October 30 in Paris.
Messi and Haaland are the favorites for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with City colleagues Kevin de Bruyne (+5000/50-1) and Rodri (+6600/66-1) following.
Ilkay Gundogan of Barcelona, who captained City to the Premier League title last season before going to Spain, is also worth +6600.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Vinicius Jr, and Kylian Mbappe round out the top ten, albeit at much higher odds.
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On September 6, the initial list of 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or will be released.
Prior to Saturday’s League Cup final, Messi said that he is not looking to add another Ballon d’Or to his collection this year, instead focusing on collective success with Miami.
He provided a spectacular long-range strike to start the score against Nashville, who eventually equalized to force a penalty shootout.
Messi’s strike in the shootout was nestled away before Nashville goalie Elliot Panicco missed the final spot-kick, handing the Argentine his first trophy in US soccer.