'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has been the overwhelming favourite to win the 2019 Ballon d'Or but recent betting odds reveal that the forward has been thrown off the top of the list with a 6/5 chance of winning the award at the end of the year.
The Argentine maestro enjoyed one of the best seasons in his career, but Barcelona's grand collapse in the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey could influence his ranking for the worse when the time comes.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored 51 goals in all competitions for the Catalan giants, helping them to a La Liga title and a Supercopa de España trophy.
The two titles have proven to be an underwhelming conclusion of an otherwise electrifying individual season, especially since the Blaugrana were favourites going into the two competitions.
The Spanish champions crashed out of the Champions League after a shock defeat to Liverpool in the semi-finals despite having a three-goal lead going into the closing leg. Their hard luck continued when they lost the Copa del Rey finals to Valencia a few days later.
Considering Virgil van Dijk's Nations League defeat, the Argentine could increase his chances of lifting his sixth Ballon d'Or by leading his national team to Copa America glory.
