Luka Modrić Heavily Favored to Win 2018 Ballon d’Or

• Odds have been released for the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner and Luka Modrić is currently the favorite to win
• Can someone other than Ronaldo or Messi win for the first time in ten years?
• Which French players could contend as winners of this summer’s World Cup?

The awarding of the Ballon d’Or has been dominated over the past decade by two players. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have each won the award five times each.

Yet, with the winner to be announced on December 3 in Paris, that dominance looks set to be broken with Croatian and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić leading the way as the current favorite.

Odds to Win the 2018 Ballon d’Or

*For a full list please follow the link in the table

Should Modrić be the Favorite?

Statistically you won’t find Modrić’s name anywhere near some of the other players on this list.

But soccer isn’t all about scoring goals. His passing ability, leadership, and influence on games was highly credited with Croatia’s run to the World Cup Final.

If you’re counting goals, though, he did have three during the World Cup. FIFA took notice and awarded Modrić the Golden Ball (MVP) of the tournament. He also captured his fourth (third straight) Champions League title with Real Madrid earlier this year.

Is There Value In Other Contenders?

The answer is absolutely. You could make a strong case for anyone in the top five and maybe even some outside it.

Not seeing Ronaldo or Messi as a favorite for Ballon d’Or almost makes you have to do a double take when looking at the odds.

Each player has come either first or second in voting nine of the past ten years. Go back one year further to 2007, and Ronaldo was second in voting while Messi was third.

To say either had a down year in 2018 would simply not be fair. If neither wins, or is seen as having lost a step, it’s simply because they’ve each set the bar so extraordinarily high.

Among their many accomplishments, Messi led all La Liga scorers with 34 goals and 12 assists.

Barcelona also finished a full 14 points clear atop of the La Liga standings. Ronaldo was second in scoring with 26 goals and also won his fourth (third straight) Champions League title with Real Madrid. He has five in his career.

But this year was special in that it was a World Cup year and neither were able to lift their nations to the levels that were expected.

Kylian Mbappe says Messi and Ronaldo had the best years—they just shouldn't win the Ballon d'Or ? pic.twitter.com/TmPjhw3SFg

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 11, 2018

France proved to be the best overall team in lifting the World Cup and were led by several talented players including Antoine Griezmann and teenage sensation Kyliann Mbappé.

Griezmann was sixth in La Liga scoring for second place Atlético Madrid. He and Mbappé also both led France with four goals in the World Cup. Mbappé was the first teenager to score in a World Cup Final since Pelé.

Griezmann vs Mbappé Stats

Will A New Winner Be Crowned?

Again I think the answer is yes.

There seems to be some Ronaldo/Messi fatigue among voters. Speaking of voters, it’s been reported that of the votes cast so far, Modrić already has a commanding lead, which could be influencing these odds.

French journalist Eric Mamruth has “leaked” what the Ballon d’Or Top 3 Podium will be…

Luka Modric
Raphael Varane
Kylian Mbappe pic.twitter.com/txqIsPPGEn

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome_) November 11, 2018

I don’t necessarily agree that Modrić has had the best overall and most consistent 2018.

However, he has been cleaning up with awards lately by winning the FIFA World Men’s Player of the Year and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards.

Ronaldo won each of these awards the past two years and also took home Ballon d’Or honors. Take this for the typo it likely is, but Transfermarkt have already jumped the gun and have Modrić listed as the 2018 winner.

Ballon d’Or Bet: Luka Modrić -150