MBAPPE,RONALDO,MESSI,NEYMAR ON BALLON D'OR TITLE
WHO OWNS BALLON D'OR(MESSI,RONALDO,MBAPPE,GRIEZMANN,OR NEYMAR)
Messi and Ronaldo both have five Ballons d'Or apiece, so who could win the award this year to break up their decade-long dominance?
The Ballon d'Or 2018 award will mark precisely 10 years since Cristiano Ronaldo first scooped up the award in 2008, leading to an entire decade of him and Messi solely dominating the trophy as both winners and runners-up.
Both superstars now have five (five!) Ballons d'Or apiece, and what with both of them underperforming at the World Cup with their respective nations, it may be time for a new era where a new player finally usurps them to the biggest individual honour in football.
Messi and Ronaldo crashing out early in Russia has led to other stars to establish themselves as Ballon d'Or contenders. But who are the favourites to win the trophy, and who are the underdogs to claim the prize? Goal has all the information.
Favourites to win the 2018 Ballon d'Or
In the wake of the 2018 World Cup that was bursting at the seams with favourites crashing out early and individual talents taking centre-stage, it may pave the way for an opportunity for a new player to break up the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly, especially since neither player reached the levels that were expected of them in Russia.
For a World Cup that was hyped up as a tournament for the two forwards to shine in, both their respective nations were disappointingly eliminated in the last 16 stage.
Messi missed the opportunity to finally lift an international honour with Argentina in his potentially last and best chance to win the World Cup (with odds of winning the Ballon d'Or available at 15/1 according to Oddschecker), while Ronaldo also failed to capitalise on Portugal's Euro 2016 success. Both are still perennially in the running to win the Ballon d'Or, though their chances may have dipped what with their early exits from the World Cup despite performing well at club level.
Stars may have been aligned and peace in football may have been achieved as Ronaldo and Messi both have five a piece – a perfect whole number – and it may be time for a new player to win the coveted award. This summer's World Cup may be the turning point and what ultimately edges a player out from Ronaldo and Messi.
After incredible performances in Russia 2018, the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric and Antoine Griezmann are among the emerging talents in Russia and favourites to win the Ballon d'Or.
Croatia captain Modric won the World Cup Golden Ball award – the prize awarded to the tournament's best-performing player – after guiding his side to the final in Moscow and establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the world (if not the best).
The Real Madrid midfielder scored in Croatia's opening two matches against Nigeria and Argentina as well as making one assist to earn the MVP award despite losing 4-2 in the final, though he's not the favourite for the Ballon d'Or with odds of 7/1.
His outstanding performance in Russia as well as his instrumental role in winning the Champions League with Real Madrid for the third time in a row has made him a favourite for the Ballon d'Or this year, even ahead of Messi.
Mbappe is another star who has in contention to win the Ballon d'Or after playing a pivotal role in France's World Cup success off the backs of an excellent season at Paris Saint-Germain (with odds of 5/1).
The 19-year-old superstar – who wasn't even alive when Les Bleus lifted their first World Cup in 1998 – won the Young Player Award in Russia after scoring four goals (including one in the final). His strike vs Croatia made him just the second teenager in history to have scored in a World Cup final after Pele in 1958.
Ronaldo still remains a frontrunner to win the award (with odds at 9/20 at the time of writing) despite Portugal's early World Cup exit at the hands of Uruguay, but his move to Juventus has signalled his intent to still establish himself as the 'GOAT' (greatest of all-time) ahead of Messi – eager to win yet another major European title after conquering England and Spain with Manchester United and Real Madrid
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