Likely contenders to win the 2022 World Cup Golden Ball
The World Cup Golden Ball is saved for the tournament's greatest and most impressive talents. We've seen stars such as Oliver Kahn, Zinedine Zidane and Diego Forlan pick up the award in the past. And now, we could be about to see a new winner emerge in Qatar as the 2022 World Cup nears its conclusion.
Only 10 players in history have won the Golden Ball trophy �
— FIFA Museum (@FIFAMuseum) December 11, 2022
Hear directly from @DiegoForlan7 what winning the prestigious trophy meant for him and his country 🇺🇾#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/I3qCfl4T10
This time around, the award could go to a number of players from a number of nations, such is the impressive array of performances that we've seen in Qatar. Certain names still stand out, however - some of which we've listed below.
Lionel Messi to end last dance with ultimate World Cup glory?
After winning the Golden Ball award in 2014, Lionel Messi is now 3/10 to make it two award wins in the last three tournaments in the World Cup 2022 betting odds. That comes as little surprise, too. The Argentine icon has once again wowed with his incredible ability to turn the impossible more possible than ever before.
The fact is, in Messi's last dance, he has been as elegant as ever in the famous blue and white of his nation. It is a dance that could find its way drifting towards the eternal glory of a World Cup win, too, as Messi seeks to add one more jewel to his glistening crown.
Sofyan Amrabat: The unexpected winner?
Not many would have known the name Sofyan Amrabat prior to the World Cup, that's the harsh truth. But, here we are, with Morocco going further than any African nation ever has before, and here Amrabat is, with every chance of picking up the Golden Ball, having put in particularly impressive performances against both Spain and Portugal.
Like others have in the past, the midfielder will undoubtedly benefit from his emergence at the World Cup. If he can perform anywhere near the levels that he has enjoyed in Qatar once the tournament is over, then Amrabat may well find himself a place at the top of world football. The Moroccan is 50/1 to win the Golden Ball.
Antoine Griezmann to pick up the award from midfield?
We've seen a lot of surprises at the 2022 World Cup, but perhaps the biggest has been Antoine Griezmann's performance from the heart of midfield for France. The Atletico Madrid star has looked far from out of place, putting in some of the most intelligent displays that we've seen in Qatar.
🇫🇷 Deschamps: "Griezmann has been an elite player for 10 years now. Like all world-class players, he's at his best in the most important games."#UCL pic.twitter.com/rl0S8hjujS
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 14, 2022
Didier Deschamps was forced into solving a glaring midfield problem following injuries to N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba - two absentees that many expected to halt France's progress. We've now seen, however, that Griezmann has slotted in to this role seamlessly.
By the time that the competition finishes in Qatar, Griezmann may well be able to enjoy an entirely new level of respect at the top of world football, especially if he wins the Golden Ball - an award that he is 33/1 to win.
