NewsFootball TipsLionel Messi Is The Favourite To Win The 2026 Ballon D’Or

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Lionel Messi Is The Favourite To Win The 2026 Ballon D’Or

The Ballon d’Or odds have been published here at BetVictor and a certain Lionel Messi is favourite to land a record-extending ninth award.

Having starred for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, our traders have priced up the market with the Argentine superstar currently available at 11/10. At the time of writing, Messi has scored eight goals in North America and will be aiming to down Spain in the final on July 19.

His brilliant brace of assists against England ensured the South Americans will have a chance to land back-to-back World Cup titles. And if the feat is achieved, Messi will almost certainly be adding the esteemed accolade to his ever-growing trophy cabinet.

2026 Ballon d'Or
31 OCT | 14:00
Ballon d'Or 2026
Ballon d'Or 2026
Ousmane Dembele 16/1
Harry Kane 4/1
Lamine Yamal 3/1
Jude Bellingham 25/1
Lionel Messi 11/10

Ballon D’Or Odds: Lionel Messi Priced At 11/10

The latest Ballon d’Or odds strongly imply that Lionel Messi will win the 2026 award. Messi continues to excel on the global stage and has helped lead Argentina to the World Cup final. He is essentially 90 minutes away from enhancing his reputation as the game’s greatest-ever footballer.

How Many Ballon D’Or Awards Has Lionel Messi Won?

Lionel Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards throughout his career. The Argentine superstar landed his first gong in 2009 with his most recent coming in 2023. No player has won the award more times than the 39-year-old.

Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or Wins:

  • 2023
  • 2021
  • 2019
  • 2015
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009

2026 Ballon D’Or Contenders

For those seeking stronger value, the Ballon d’Or odds for Lamine Yamal are currently 3/1. That price will almost certainly shorten should the Barcelona star help fire Spain to World Cup glory. Having recently just turned 19, it feels that Sunday’s final is a straight shootout between Yamal and Lionel Messi.

Harry Kane is 4/1 but his chances have been reduced owing to England’s defeat to Argentina on July 15. Further back, punters can get 12/1 for Kylian Mbappe, 16/1 for Ousmane Dembele, 20/1 for Rodri and 25/1 for Jude Bellingham.


If you intend to bet on the Ballon d’Or then please take the time to read through BetVictor’s safe and responsible gambling page which will provide good advice on how to stay in control when betting on football.

Any betting decisions should be made responsibly and there are no guarantees when it comes to match outcomes. All odds correct as of 1pm on July 17, 2026 and are subject to change.

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Ben Horlock

About the author

After a two-year loan spell with FootItalia, Ben is back in the gaming industry having previously represented Betfair and Entain. He has produced sports content since 2010 when he was a sports journalism student at Southampton Solent University. Whilst on the South Coast, Ben witnessed the Saints rise from League One to the Premier League and lost count of how many goals Rickie Lambert scored along the way. Not only is he a huge football fan, Ben follows a number of sports including tennis, cricket, rugby and F1. He has been published across a number of reputable sites including Sports Illustrated, GiveMeSport, 90Min and ESPN to name but a few. When Ben is not producing content for BetVictor, he can often be found playing tennis or hiking up the Rock of Gibraltar.