Luka Modric (2/1) beat odds on favourite Ronaldo to the Best FIFA Footballer of the Year award in the London last night, while Messi was snubbed for the top three.
Modric has had a remarkable year winning his third successive Champions League with Real Madrid and captaining Croatia to the World Cup final, as well as, winning the Golden Ball for best player at the tournament in Russia.
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The 32-year-old midfielder has now moved into pole position (4/7) to win the Ballon d'Or as he goes head-to-head with his former Madrid teammate, who is 5/4.
If Modric pips Ronaldo to the renowned title, it would be the first time the Portuguese star or Messi haven't won the Ballon d'Or since Kaka won it 2007.
Next in line are 2018 World Cup winners Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann who are joint at 12/1.
Mbappe, who is considered the best young player in the world, has won Ligue 1, Coupe de Ligue, Coupe de France and the French Super Cup in the last year with PSG and the World Cup with France.
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The 19-year-old scored four goals at the World Cup as he received the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award as the nation won their second World Cup.
Griezmann also bagged four goals at the tournament and won the UEFA Europe League with Atletico Madrid, scoring twice in the final and picking up the Man of the Match award.
However, the French forward was left out of the 2018 FIFPro World XI at the ceremony in London last night.
Messi's odds come as shock, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is a massive 16/1.
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The Argentine led Barcelona to La Liga and Copa del Rey success last season scoring 38 goals combined in the two tournaments. However, the 31-year-old's failure to guide his club further in the Champions League and the fact that his country crashed out of the groups at the World Cup are probably to blame for his outside odds.
Messi did, however, make the FIFPro World XI last night despite his snub from the top three shortlist.
Premier League stars Mo Salah and Harry Kane can be backed at 20/1 and 25/1 respectively.