Ballon d’Or 2024 favourite is a player who’s never won the award, according to bookmakers

Bookmakers are expecting a player who has never won the Ballon d'Or before to secure the 2024 prize next year.

The award, scooped up by Lionel Messi at the 2023 ceremony in Paris, is predicted to have a brand new winner with the recent World Cup winner having collected his eighth prize.

And it is England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham - who has so far scored 17 goals in 21 games for Carlo Ancelotti's side - is tipped to win at the expense of both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is predicted to finish fourth, with former Barcelona man Messi failing to make the podium.

The 36-year-old recently moved to the MLS with Inter Miami, with the US campaign set to get under way on February 21.

It remains unclear how much longer the former PSG star will continue to play as we approach the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

"I don’t know how much longer I’ll be going for, but I’m inclined to enjoy it," Messi said recently.

"I've been saying it a lot lately, I want to keep enjoying [it]. I don't how long [I will keep playing], as long as I am fit physically and can compete, I am going to keep doing it.

"I can’t put a number on anything because football changes so much from day to day. I wish it would be for a long time because it is what I know and love to do. So, I wish to keep going".

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On the other hand, 20-year-old sensation Bellingham continues to pave the way for the new generation of stars.

Bellingham is expected to be a leading light for England at next summer's 2024 European Championships after Gareth Southgate's side failed to lose a game in qualifying and have already been tipped as an early favourite.

The former Birmingham City man is valued to a £1 billion release clause and continues to go from strength to strength.