Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or odds jump after dramatic World Cup comeback

Lionel Messi scored a late equaliser as Argentina came from 2‑0 down to defeat Egypt 3‑2 in the World Cup round‑of‑16 on July 7, keeping the defending champions alive in the tournament and maintaining his place in the Golden Boot race. The performance triggered a sharp rise in his Ballon d'Or betting odds, which fell from +5,500 before the tournament to +400 afterwards, implying about a 20% chance of winning. Messi became the most‑backed player on Oddschecker, accounting for 42% of bets, and moved to third place in the odds behind Harry Kane (+250) and Kylian Mbappé (+275). Analysts noted his season‑long form, citing an 8.76 WhoScored rating and 28 goal contributions in 19 matches, and highlighted that his World Cup impact could shape the award outcome as he seeks a ninth Ballon d'Or.