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The Ballon d'Or odds are dramatically different after the World Cup

Lionel Messi is no longer a favourite to win the next Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi is no longer a favourite to win the next Ballon d’Or

Could we finally be seeing the beginning of the end of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s stranglehold on the Ballon d’Or?

The pair have hogged the coveted prize every year since 2008, finishing first or second in every vote except 2010 when Ronaldo missed out on the top three.

However, the World Cup in Russia has shaken the picture up.

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Both Ronaldo and Messi were not at their commanding best throughout the tournament and they both left Russia in the Round of 16, which allowed other players like Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric and Harry Kane to take centre stage.

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And the latest odds for this year’s winner makes for some fascinating reading.

The odds for the Ballon d’Or are very interesting, via <a href="https://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/ballon-dor/player-of-the-year" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Oddschecker;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Oddschecker</a>
The odds for the Ballon d’Or are very interesting, via Oddschecker

Ronaldo is still hot favourite after his Champions League-winning season at Real Madrid and four goals in Russia, but Messi has slipped well down the list after Argentina’s poor tournament.

19-year-old Mbappe is now second favourite after he announced himself on the world stage with four goals at his first major tournament, including a goal in the final against Croatia.

Mbappe’s France teammate Antoine Griezmann rounds out the top three, while Modric, who won the Golden Ball in Russia, is fourth ahead of Messi.

England Golden Ball winner Harry Kane is in eighth, with Neymar in tenth place.