Bayern Munich’s Ribery backs himself for Ballon d’Or – Should you?
Published:Bundesliga supremo Franck Ribery is being widely tipped to claim this year’s Ballon d’Or following a record-breaking season at Bayern Munich with the player going as far as backing himself for the big award.
The 30-year-old is the current favourite at Ladbrokes to receive the accolade, with odds of 11/10 available for those willing to back the Champions League winner.
And speaking in a recent interview with French football magazine L’Equipe, the winger appeared to back himself for football’s top individual honour.
“I try not to think about the Ballon d’Or,” he told the publication. “But my wife has already prepared the space above the fireplace in the living room.
“I do get a lot of belief from her and all of Bayern. I do not know if I will win, however I think I deserve it.
“Before I was a good player, now I think I’m the best.”
The bookies appear to concur with this sentiment, backing the playmaker ahead of the familiar duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the betting, with the pair priced at 5/2 and 9/4 respectively.
It comes in the wake of arguably Ribery’s best season to date, with the former Marseille star winning a domestic league and cup double as well as the Champions League with Bayern, scoring 11 goals and providing 18 assists in all competitions.
FIFA chiefs, meanwhile, may be keen to give the award to someone other than Messi, with the Argentine claiming the honour in each of the previous three years since the previous European and World footballer of the year titles were merged.
And with Madrid star Ronaldo doing little to merit the title during a trophyless campaign for Los Blancos in 2012/13, Ribery could be right to back his claims for victory.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic the next best priced player for the Ballon d’Or at 20/1, it looks like Bayern may soon be adding more silverware.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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