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Lionel Messi Emerges as Favorite to Win Ninth Ballon d'Or After World Cup Final Spot

How 3 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.

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First reported by Mako · Jul 15, 2026

What happened

After Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final, Lionel Messi became the favorite to win his ninth Ballon d'Or, with a 45% chance according to OddsChecker. Harry Kane's odds fell following England's semifinal exit, while Ayman Yamal holds the second spot. The World Cup final outcome between Argentina and Spain is expected to decide the award's winner.

01Lionel Messi leads Ballon d'Or odds with a 45% chance after Argentina's World Cup final berth.
02Harry Kane's chances dropped to 15% following England's semifinal elimination.
03Ayman Yamal ranks second with a 31% chance to win the Ballon d'Or.
04Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé each have a 2% chance for the award.
05Messi could be the first to win the Ballon d'Or while playing in MLS if he wins in 2026.
06The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will likely determine the Ballon d'Or winner.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

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