Lionel Messi odds-on to win 2023 Ballon D’or after Argentina World Cup win, Mbappe, Haaland & Neymar trail, Ronaldo 80/1

LIONEL MESSI is already ODDS-ON to win next year’s Ballon D’or after he helped Argentina to World Cup glory.

Betfair price the mini-magician at 5/6 to lift the trophy next October, having scored twice in the epic final win over France.

Messi is favourite to win the 2023 Ballon D’or

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That trophy win was the one missing from Messi’s outrageous honours collection.

Some suggested it could be easy for Messi, 35, to walk away from the game having ‘completed it’.

But that was never a thought in his mind and he said after the game he was even going to continue playing as a world champion for Argentina.

He’s normally up amongst the top of the betting market for this award anyway but a World Cup win means the others need to have a sensational 10 months to close that gap.

Kylian Mbappe is next best in the market at just 9/4, having scored a stunning hat trick himself in the Qatar final.

He still has so much to play for alongside Messi at PSG and the Golden Boot winner could find himself away from the Parisians to become the main star if a move transpires in the summer.

Erling Haaland is expected to continue his goal scoring exploits and is just behind at 4/1.

You’d suspect he’ll have a big part to play in Manchester City’s Champions League push – a trophy that means everything to the club.

It could be that a win on the continent would be enough for Haaland to win this, with his goal scoring numbers still off the scale.

Last year’s winner Karim Benzema (8/1) is the same price as Kevin de Bruyne, with the pair just trailing Neymar (7/1).

Robert Lewandowski (12/1) is still looking to win one having been inexcusably overlooked in the past.

There’s a host of players at 20/1, including England captain Harry Kane, with compatriot Phil Foden at 28/1.

Bruno Fernandes (40/1) and Sadio Mane (50/1) come next, with the pair ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo at a stunning 80/1!

The Portuguese is still without a club after his axing by Manchester United, with a tournament to forget in Qatar too.

The five-time winner is likely see those odds shorten if he stays within Europe’s elite, but could find himself out the running if opting for the MLS or Middle East.

Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: “Lionel Messi has won it all after cementing his Greatest of All Time status with Argentina’s victory in the World Cup final and punters have rushed to back him to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or, causing his odds to be slashed to 5/6 from Evens.

“Other contenders include 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe at 9/4, while Man City’s goal machine Erling Haaland is 4/1.”

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