Lionel Messi’s status as Ballon d’Or favourite has evaporated as quickly as it appeared.
The Argentina captain shot to the top of the betting odds after knocking out favourite Harry Kane and England.
Kane had only just topped the list after France duo Kylian Mbappe and Michel Olise went out a day earlier.
Now with Messi losing the World Cup final 1-0 to Spain, he’s also seen his chances of his ninth crown disintegrate.
According to Bet365 and others, the Inter Miami forward has gone from first in the betting odds pre-finale to third.
Ahead of him are now Barcelona and Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Bayern Munich and England’s Harry Kane.
Kane has edged back ahead of Messi, with his incredible club season for Bayern Munich coming back into play.
Ballon d’Or 2026 odds
| Harry Kane | 13/8 |
| Lamine Yamal | 9/4 |
| Lionel Messi | 11/4 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 7/2 |
| Rodri | 9/2 |
There were also doubts about Messi’s eligibility for the award as he no longer players in Europe.
Only one player has won the prize playing outside, which was Messi himself in 2023, but he spent part of the criteria period at PSG.
The Ballon d’Or itself also clarified that the European-only rule no longer applies.
They wrote: “Created in 1956 by France Football, the Ballon d’Or originally rewarded the best European player playing in a European league.
“That lasted until 1995, when the trophy went global, while still being reserved for players playing in a European league.
“But since 2007, there’s been no restriction: the Ballon d’Or rewards the best player in the world, full stop.”
Yet despite the current top five, the man with probably the most valid opinion on the matter, Luis Enrique, has another candidate.
Discussing his midfielder and World Cup winner Fabian Ruiz, he said: “World Cup, Euros, back-to-back Champions League titles, Nations League. Ballon d’Or!”
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