Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is now the odds-on favourite to scoop his seventh Ballon d’Or award ahead of Harry Kane and N’Golo Kante.
The 34-year-old Argentine superstar was in scintillating form for Barcelona last season, despite the Spanish club failing to secure the La Liga title.
Messi, who is now a free agent after his Barcelona contract expired at the end of June, lifted the Copa del Rey trophy with the La Liga club.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner scored an impressive 30 times in La Liga as he finished as the top scorer last season ahead of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
Messi’s form has carried over on the international stage as the Argentina captain is starring for his country at this summer’s Copa America.
The Argentine forward has scored four times and registered four assists as Lionel Scaloni’s men will now face Colombia in the Copa America semi-final on 7th July.
Now, OddsChecker has found that bookmakers have put Messi as the favourite to win France Football’s coveted prize in 2021.
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| Credit: PA |
Both Betfair and Paddy Power have the Argentina international on 9/4 odds at the time of this writing.
Kante, who was tipped by many as one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, has surprisingly slipped behind Kane in the bookies’ odds.
The 30-year-old French midfielder enjoyed a successful season with Chelsea, with the Blues capturing the Champions League title.
However, Kante’s hopes of strengthening his claim on the Ballon d’Or might have been hindered by France’s shock Euro 2020 exit to Switzerland in the round of 16.
Posted below are the current odds for the top 15 players in contention for the Ballon d’Or, according to Paddy Power.
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| Credit: PA |
= Serge Gnabry (40/1)
14. Mason Mount (40/1)
= Erling Haaland (33/1)
12. Phil Foden (33/1)
11. Ciro Immobile (25/1)
10. Romelu Lukaku (14/1)
9. Kevin De Bruyne (12/1)
8. Raheem Sterling (10/1)
7. Neymar (9/1)
= Cristiano Ronaldo (6/1)
= Kylian Mbappe (6/1)
= Robert Lewandowski (6/1)
3. N’Golo Kante (6/1)
2. Harry Kane (4/1)
1. Lionel Messi (9/4)
Featured Image Credit: PA