What do Lionel Messi, Lev Yashin, and Michael Owen have in common? They’re all winners of the coveted Ballon d’Or, the most distinguished award in football, presented annually to the top male player in the world.
Ballon d’Or betting is a brilliant way to make a wager outside of the usual football options, and adds even more excitement as you follow your player’s progress throughout the year. In this guide, we’ll delve further into making a Ballon d’Or bet, and look at potential frontrunners to help you make your choice. So load up on half-time oranges and let’s go.
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required
Get up to £50 in FreeBets, an Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins and £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up to sportingbet today. Get rewarded as you complete our 4 Welcome Challenges, plus get an extra £20 FreeBet when you complete all 4.
T&Cs apply. New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
BetUK has a rich sports betting platform with 30+ sports
Live streaming available
Find 300+ distinct markets to bet on popular matches
Bet UK Bonus
Bet £10 Get £30
Go to Bet UK
Visit Site
Payment Methods
Apps
License
T&Cs apply. New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Opt-in required. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
New customers only. Min £10 deposit and bet on odds 1/2 or greater required. Free bet and free spins issued within 24 hours of qualifying bet being settled. Free bet valid for 6 months, stake not returned. Free spins valid for 7 days, selected games only. UK only excl Northern Ireland. 18+ T&Cs apply.
18+, UK only. Deposit and place a £10 cash bet on a double or a treble or accumulated odds of 2/1 or greater and get a £20 sports bonus (no wagering requirements) to use on Accas. Applies to first cash bet only. Bonus credited to use on multiples (min. 4 selections, min odds per selection 1.5). Cashed out, Void or ‘Draw No Bet’ wagers do not qualify for this promotion. Bonus credited by midday the day after bet settlement. 7-day bonus expiry. Available once per customer. Full T&Cs apply.
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.
New UK+IRE customers only. Promo code: 20FREE. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
18+ | UK New Players Only | Opt-in Required | Min £20 qualifying bets, stake not returned | Free bet – one-time stake of £50, min odds 1.7, stake not returned | Bonus Code: FBSBETG | 1X wager the winnings | Wager from real balance first | Wager calculated on bonus bets only | Max conversion: £200 | Valid for 7 Days from issue | Excluded Skrill & Neteller deposits | Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses | Full Terms apply
New Players Only. Opt-in required. Minimum £20 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet is a one-time stake of £40, minimum odds of 2.0, stake is not returned. 1X wagering the winnings. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Maximum Conversion £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply.
New UK+IRE customers only. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions. 18+ begambleaware.com T&Cs apply
Amazing range of betting markets for football, basketball, and more
Option to increase limits by trader
Great live betting interface
BritainBet Bonus
Deposit & Bet £10 And Get £10 Free Bet
Go to BritainBet
Visit Site
Payment Methods
+
Apps
License
New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet via mobile up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Click for T&Cs. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5. Free bets expire in 90 days. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
Excellent website design that means the site looks good, loads quickly and is easy to navigate around
Very good customer service contact options that are open at convenient times
Varied range of sports on which you can place back and lay bets
Smarkets Bonus
0% commission for 60 days
Copy
Visit Site
Payment Methods
+
Withdrawal
1 – 5 Days
Apps
License
Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% for 60 days. Min. £10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Instant Banking. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply.
T&Cs apply. New players who place a £10 bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or bigger will receive £20 in Free Bets. Qualifying deposit (Visa/Mastercard only) of £10 required. £20 in Free Bets will be credited as 4 x £5 Free Bets. The qualifying bet must settle within seven days.
18+. UK Customers (Excluding NI) only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 £5 max qualifying bets. 13 settled bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed on sportsbook within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply.
Only available to new, verified customers residing in the UK. Place a first-ever Sportsbook bet – multi-bets of at least 3 legs; min. £2 stake; min. odds 3/10 (1.3) per leg (bets placed on horse racing and greyhounds excluded). Win and get back 50% of your stake – on top of your winnings – as a free sports bet up to £10. Get back 100% of your stake as a free sports bet up to £20 if you lose. Customers must place their first qualifying bet within 30 days of registration, after which the welcome offer will expire. Full T&Cs apply.
*New UK & Eire clients only. 50% cashback on cumulative net losses on qualifying spread bets placed and settled within 7 days of account opening. Fully, partially or reverse closed bets do not qualify. Max cashback £500. Full terms apply. Spread betting involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits. Always bet responsibly. 18+
Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets are credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes are not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days, wins are capped at £500 • To withdraw bonus/related wins, you must wager the bonus amount up to 40 times its value within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Casino Bonus can be used on selected games in casino only • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods & countries & Full T&Cs apply. Begambleaware . 18+.
New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply
The Ballon d’Or (literally meaning ‘golden ball’ in French) is an award presented each year by the French magazine, France Football. The first winner of the award was England legend, the ‘Wizard of the Dribble’, Stanley Matthews in 1956, and the current holder is French superstar, Karim Benzema.
A brief history of the Ballon d’Or
Originally, the Ballon d’Or was only given to players from Europe, but this changed in 1995 to include any player who was a member of European Clubs. In 2007, the guidelines were changed again and any footballer from around the globe is now eligible.
Most prolific winners of the Ballon d'Or Award
A select group of players have won the award on three or more occasions during their careers.
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
T&Cs apply. New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Opt-in required. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
Place a qualifying £25 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. T&Cs apply
How does the Ballon d’Or voting system work?
Ballon d’Or betting is a fun way to participate in the excitement, but to make your wager, first you’ll want to know how the recipient is chosen.
The Ballon d’Or winner is decided by a voting system from a 30-40 name shortlist.
This shortlist is sent to captains, coaches, and sports journalists from the top 100 FIFA world-ranked countries.
Each individual chooses five players from the list and ranks them in order of preference. Their top pick receives six points, second favourite four points, and so on.
The votes are collected, added together, and the winner decided.
In 2022, the judging system was changed slightly so that players were judged on their performance during the football season, rather than the whole calendar year.
How are players judged?
Each nominee is judged on three criteria:
Individual performance and contribution to the team performance.
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required
Get up to £50 in FreeBets, an Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins and £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up to sportingbet today. Get rewarded as you complete our 4 Welcome Challenges, plus get an extra £20 FreeBet when you complete all 4.
Know the score - what are the Ballon d’Or betting markets?
The Ballon d’Or is awarded in October every year, so every wager will be a futures bet placed before the outcome. But, despite this, there are still lots of different betting markets available.
Winner: The most straightforward bet you can place is to choose the overall winner of the award.
Runner-up: Some bookmakers will allow you to make a wager on the runner-up to the main award. Voting can be very close (especially in years with World Cup tournaments), leading to a voting split between two players.
Win by a certain year: A slightly more unusual bet you can place is to wager that a specific player will win the Ballon d’Or by a certain year. There are several greats who have come in second and third but have failed to hit the top spot, including Suarez, Neymar, and Iniesta.
Win during career: You can also bet that one of the GOATs might win the Ballon d’Or at some time before they retire. This is a high-risk bet, however, and not for those looking for quick returns.
How to pick a Ballon d’Or winner - facts, stats, and scandals from the beautiful game
The Ballon d’Or might celebrate the beautiful game but that doesn’t mean things don’t get ugly sometimes! To help you make your top Ballon d’Or pick, here are some key stats and scandals from the history of the award.
Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or 7 times, which is more than any other player. However, in 2010, it was widely felt that he didn’t deserve the win compared to Andres Iniesta or Xavi, who came second and third in the voting.
In 2013 the Ballon d’Or was further rocked by scandal when an anonymous player alleged that their vote was changed by officials after it had been cast.
The only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or is Lev Yashin (nicknamed ‘The Black Spider’). There’s now a separate award for goalies.
Michael Owen is the only player to have won the Ballon d’Or and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. You can look at our guide to the best Sports Personality Of The Year betting sites here.
Ballon d’Or betting odds - the best sign ups this season
Current Ballon d’Or betting odds at the time of writing place Messi and Erling Haaland as the main contenders for 2023, but there are lots of other big names who should arguably be contenders for the title. Here’s our rundown of the top picks:
🏴 Harry Kane
Harry Kane plays as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur and captains the England national team. He is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the game and has broken numerous scoring records. Kane received a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2022.
🇧🇪 Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne helped Manchester City to a historic treble that included their first ever Champions League title.
🇵🇱 Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski is a Polish player who once scored 48 goals in a season. He came in third for the Ballon d’Or in 2021 but has yet to make it to the top spot.
🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe
Also nominated in 2022, Mbappe is a French forward who plays for Paris Saint Germaine, as well as captaining the French national team. He ended up on the losing side in the World Cup final against Argentina, but scored a hat trick and a penalty.
Ballon d’Or betting at betting.co.uk - back of the net!
The Ballon d’Or is awarded to the very best player in the world not just for their club matches, but for their performance in international fixtures too. It’s a perfect bet for football fans looking for more action once the main season finishes and, because it lasts all year, you’ll have a long time to watch your bet progress.
Taking early odds is no guarantee of success, as injury or transfers might rob your top pick of their playing potential. But, if your chosen player had low odds and then scores hat trick after hat trick, you can feel smug that you locked in the best odds. There are lots of favourites, but the fact that it’s voted for by players and industry experts around the world rather than one panel or a public vote, means that the field is wide open.
If you’re looking for more wagers to see you through the year once the footie season is over, have a look at our page on novelty betting, to find out about betting on reality TV, the Royal Family, and even whether it will be a white Christmas.
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required
Get up to £50 in FreeBets, an Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins and £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up to sportingbet today. Get rewarded as you complete our 4 Welcome Challenges, plus get an extra £20 FreeBet when you complete all 4.
Before making a bet on the Ballon d’Or, it’s important to look at the available odds. These will change throughout the season so it’s important to check back in regularly to find out the latest news.
💷 Are there any bonuses available when making a bet on the Ballon d’Or?
Different Ballon d'Or betting sites will offer different bonuses when you sign up to a new site. Some may also offer specific Ballon d’Or betting bonuses. You can read through all of our guides to find out which betting sites offer the best bonuses for you.
⚽ Can I only make a bet on who will be the Ballon d'Or winner?
There are lots of different potential betting markets available on Ballon d’Or betting sites, one of the most prestigious awards given in football. To find out about the betting markets available, you can read through our complete guide.
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required
Get up to £50 in FreeBets, an Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins and £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up to sportingbet today. Get rewarded as you complete our 4 Welcome Challenges, plus get an extra £20 FreeBet when you complete all 4.
By providing my e-mail address, I declare that I agree that Betting.co.uk will regularly send me information by e-mail: I can revoke my consent at any time.
Users must be 18+. If you are having trouble with gambling then help and advice can be found at begambleaware.org. Please Play Responsibly.
This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
