Ballon d'Or 2024 odds as verdict given on Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham after Messi win

Lionel Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or award of his career meant that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland missed out on a first.

Messi's World Cup win with Argentina in Qatar in 2022 saw the 36-year-old edge ahead of Haaland, who notched 52 goals in his 53 City games last term - with 36 of those in the league to break the goalscoring record for a single season in Premier League history.

Haaland will surely be in the running for the 2024 edition f he continues his good form, but with others such as England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham having fine seasons, it could be another close call for the Norwegian. According to bet365, Bellingham leads the way for the award with odds of 7/2 for the young Englishman to take home the prestigious award.

He’s already scored 13 goals in 13 games from the centre of midfield, an outstanding tally which has him as by far and away the leading goalscorer in La Liga, three ahead of nearest competitor Antoine Griezmann, whilst his trio of goals in the Champions League has him joint-top amongst the likes of Julian Alvarez and Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Should England win the Euros next summer and Los Blancos take home some trophies - all whilst Bellingham keeps up his form - he looks a strong candidate. Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy for world's best young player at the ceremony in Paris on Monday.

Meanwhile, City trio Haaland, Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne come in next at 9-2, 12-1 and 20-1 respectively after their top-five finishes in this year's Ballan d'Or. This year's winner Lionel Messi is 7-1 to win back-to-back awards, which is slightly behind the 4-1 pricing on Kylian Mbappe while Bayern Munich and England star Harry Kane, is 6-1 to become the first Three Lions star to win the accolade since Michael Owen in 2001.