What is the Ballon d’Or?
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.
| Player | Ballon d'Or Wins |
| 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi | 7 |
| 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 |
| 🇫🇷 Michel Platini | 3 |
| 🇳🇱 Johan Cruyff | 3 |
| 🇳🇱 Marco van Basten | 3 |
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.
- Player talent and sportsmanship.
- Overall assessment of the player’s career.
BALLON D'OR VOTING MECHANISM - HOW VOTING WORKS
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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.
If you’re looking for more football action, you might want to check out our guides to the top
PFA Player Of The Year betting sites
too.
🏆 Messi has won the award 7 times in his career
🏅 Benzema claimed the trophy in 2022
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 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.
De Bruyne helped Manchester City to a historic treble that included their first ever Champions League title.
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.
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.
Ballon d'Or Betting Pros and Cons
- There is a shortlist of winners announced
- Bettors can research players and their form
- Odds are available most of the time
- There aren't many markets to bet on
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Ballon d’Or betting FAQs
❓What are the Ballon d'Or betting odds?
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.
