Lewandowski overtakes Messi as odds-on Ballon d’Or favourite

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 23 May 2023 08:54 CDT
3 min read

Robert Lewandowski has told Bayern Munich he wants to quit the club — © ProShots

Robert Lewandowski has overtaken Lionel Messi as the new red-hot favourite to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or.

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Messi has for much of the past few months been considered as the odds-on favourite with the bookmakers.

However, over the last few days there has been a surge of interest in the Bayern Munich hitman.

This mostly came about following stories in the media that the Ballon d’Or results had been leaked, in which Lewandowski was shown to be the winner.

Coupled with Lewandowski’s sensational form this season – he has 22 goals in 16 games compared to Messi’s three in eight – the Poland striker has seen his odds plummet.

Will Lewandowski or Messi win 2021 Ballon d’Or?

Lewandowski is priced at 4/11 with PaddyPower and betfair, 4/7 with skybet and 4/9 with william hill.

Messi’s odds have lengthened to 6/4 and 7/4 with most bookmakers.

It would be a seventh Ballon d’Or for Messi, while Lewandowski is still yet to win football’s most prestigious individual prize.

ℹ️ Quickest to 80 Champions League goals:

👕1⃣0⃣0⃣ Robert Lewandowski
👕1⃣0⃣2⃣ Lionel Messi
👕1⃣1⃣6⃣ Cristiano Ronaldo#UCL pic.twitter.com/iMVZN9F3Iw
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 2, 2021

Lewandowski was certain to take the award in 2020 until it was decided there would be no prize following the Coronavirus pandemic.

Third favourite is now Mohamed Salah following his own sensational start to the 2021-22 season, which has seen him score 15 goals in 13 games for Liverpool. His odds range from 8/1 to 16/1.

Jorginho had been among the top three with the bookmakers ever since following up his Chelsea Champions League success with Italian Euro 2020 glory, but he has now dropped to fourth favourite. He is rated between 12/1 and 20/1 from most providers.

Karim Benzema is fifth favourite after a brilliant individual year with Real Madrid.