{"id":140078,"date":"2023-10-30T11:49:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T11:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magdelaine.net\/?p=140078"},"modified":"2023-10-30T11:49:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T11:49:26","slug":"lionel-messi-clear-favourite-to-win-balon-dor-tonight-with-erling-haaland-only-challenger-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magdelaine.net\/lifestyle\/lionel-messi-clear-favourite-to-win-balon-dor-tonight-with-erling-haaland-only-challenger-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi clear favourite to win Balon d'Or TONIGHT with Erling Haaland only challenger | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

LIONEL MESSI is expected to clinch this year's Ballon d'Or award in Paris tonight.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bookmakers Paddy Power had the Argentina superstar as low as 1\/14 when the nominations wee announced and have since SUSPENDED betting on him winning.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Paddy Power: Claim YOUR \u00a340 in free Bet Builder bets*<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Messi is on course to wrap up a record eighth Ballon d'Or, reclaiming it from last year's victor Karim Benzema.<\/p>\n

It'd be Messi's third win in the past four runnings of the prestigious title, with no winner called in 2020 due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n

It follows the Argentina skipper's efforts in helping his nation win last year's World Cup in Qatar, which capped off a stellar career.<\/p>\n

He subsequently left PSG for America and his Inter Miami career started just as you'd expect it to.<\/p>\n

He recorded ten goals in his first seven games in the country to set a marker down to the rest of the MLS that he wasn't there on a retirement jolly.<\/p>\n

This past 12 months has meant he'll add to his record haul of this award, adding to wins from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.<\/p>\n

Chasing him down though is Erling Haaland, who recently scooped the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award.<\/p>\n

Ballon d’Or winner odds<\/h3>\n

From Paddy Power<\/p>\n