2022 World Cup Golden Ball Betting | Odds & Predictions

The 2022 World Cup offers a fantastic range of wagering opportunities, such as betting on the WC best player award - the first choice for seasoned punters. Like top scorer wagers, Golden Ball bets allow you to profit from the performances of individual players. Learn more about the World Cup Golden Ball betting market, get the best picks and find some good value odds right here at Betpack.

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Table of Contents

    Author: Steven D. Thompson

    Updated: 28/09/2022 3:38 PM

    Golden Ball vs Golden Boot

    The Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards are given to exceptional football players. But what's the difference between them? We list the similarities and differences between the two awards and help you place more educated Golden Ball bets.

    Golden Ball

    • Given to the best player of the tournament - the technical committee creates a shortlist, and representatives of the media vote

    • The award was first instituted at the 1982 World Cup

    • Previous winners include goalkeepers (Oliver Kahn), midfielders (Luka Modric), and forwards (Lionel Messi)

    • You can bet on who the winner will be

    Golden Boot

    • Awarded to the player who scores the most goals

    • Top scorers were ranked since the 1930s, but the Golden Boot award was officially introduced in 1982

    • It is usually forwards who win the award e.g. England's Harry Kane, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller

    • You can place Golden Boot bets too

    2022 World Cup Best Player Betting: Favourites & Odds

    Mbappe is the bookies' favourite and leads all World Cup Best Player betting markets (early odds) for this historic tournament which will be played in the middle of the season for the biggest European football leagues. If you back him, you can expect to get Golden Ball World Cup odds of around 7.00. If you are looking for players priced higher, Harry Kane, as well as Neymar, Benzema, and Messi will do the trick. Cristiano Ronaldo is a really good value bet and he is one of the favourites to win the illustrious World Cup accolade. Then again, it could be one of the goalkeepers, defenders or midfielders as well to win it.

    2022 World Cup Golden Ball Betting Odds:

    To Win Rizk Betsson
    Kylian Mbappé 7.00 7.00
    Harry Kane 10.00 10.00
    Karim Benzema 12.00 12.00
    Lionel Messi 12.00 12.00
    Neymar 12.00 12.00
    Cristiano Ronaldo 14.00 14.00
    Kevin de Bruyne 15.00 15.00
    Gabriel Jesus 15.00 15.00
    Luka Modric 17.00 17.00
    Angel Di Maria 20.00 20.00
    Bruno Fernandes 20.00 20.00
    Leroy Sané 20.00 20.00
    Vinicius 20.00 20.00
    Christian Eriksen 25.00 25.00
    Roberto Firmino 25.00 25.00
    Serge Gnabry 25.00 25.00
    Son Heung-min 25.00 25.00
    Robert Lewandowski 25.00 25.00
    Romelu Lukaku 25.00 25.00
    Lautaro Martinez 25.00 25.00
    Jadon Sancho 25.00 25.00
    Raheem Sterling 25.00 25.00
    Sadio Mane 30.00 30.00
    Álvaro Morata 35.00 35.00
    Memphis Depay 40.00 40.00
    Paulo Dybala 40.00 40.00
    Antoine Griezmann 40.00 40.00
    Sergej Milinkovic Savic 40.00 40.00
    Thomas Müller 40.00 40.00
    Tammy Abraham 50.00 50.00
    Eden Hazard 50.00 50.00
    Diogo Jota 50.00 50.00
    Ivan Perisic 50.00 50.00
    Paul Pogba 50.00 50.00
    Christian Pulisic 50.00 50.00
    Richarlison 50.00 50.00
    Dusan Vlahovic 50.00 50.00
    Timo Werner 50.00 50.00
    Hakim Ziyech 50.00 50.00
    Kasper Dolberg 75.00 75.00
    Yussuf Poulsen 75.00 75.00
    Ante Rebić 75.00 75.00
    Gareth Bale 100.00 100.00
    Martin Braithwaite 100.00 100.00
    Marcus Rashford 100.00 100.00
    To Win
    Kylian Mbappé
    Rizk
    7.00
    Betsson
    7.00
    To Win
    Harry Kane
    Rizk
    10.00
    Betsson
    10.00
    To Win
    Karim Benzema
    Rizk
    12.00
    Betsson
    12.00
    To Win
    Lionel Messi
    Rizk
    12.00
    Betsson
    12.00
    To Win
    Neymar
    Rizk
    12.00
    Betsson
    12.00
    To Win
    Cristiano Ronaldo
    Rizk
    14.00
    Betsson
    14.00
    To Win
    Kevin de Bruyne
    Rizk
    15.00
    Betsson
    15.00
    To Win
    Gabriel Jesus
    Rizk
    15.00
    Betsson
    15.00
    To Win
    Luka Modric
    Rizk
    17.00
    Betsson
    17.00
    To Win
    Angel Di Maria
    Rizk
    20.00
    Betsson
    20.00
    To Win
    Bruno Fernandes
    Rizk
    20.00
    Betsson
    20.00
    To Win
    Leroy Sané
    Rizk
    20.00
    Betsson
    20.00
    To Win
    Vinicius
    Rizk
    20.00
    Betsson
    20.00
    To Win
    Christian Eriksen
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Roberto Firmino
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Serge Gnabry
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Son Heung-min
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Robert Lewandowski
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Romelu Lukaku
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Lautaro Martinez
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Jadon Sancho
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Raheem Sterling
    Rizk
    25.00
    Betsson
    25.00
    To Win
    Sadio Mane
    Rizk
    30.00
    Betsson
    30.00
    To Win
    Álvaro Morata
    Rizk
    35.00
    Betsson
    35.00
    To Win
    Memphis Depay
    Rizk
    40.00
    Betsson
    40.00
    To Win
    Paulo Dybala
    Rizk
    40.00
    Betsson
    40.00
    To Win
    Antoine Griezmann
    Rizk
    40.00
    Betsson
    40.00
    To Win
    Sergej Milinkovic Savic
    Rizk
    40.00
    Betsson
    40.00
    To Win
    Thomas Müller
    Rizk
    40.00
    Betsson
    40.00
    To Win
    Tammy Abraham
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Eden Hazard
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Diogo Jota
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Ivan Perisic
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Paul Pogba
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Christian Pulisic
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Richarlison
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Dusan Vlahovic
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Timo Werner
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Hakim Ziyech
    Rizk
    50.00
    Betsson
    50.00
    To Win
    Kasper Dolberg
    Rizk
    75.00
    Betsson
    75.00
    To Win
    Yussuf Poulsen
    Rizk
    75.00
    Betsson
    75.00
    To Win
    Ante Rebić
    Rizk
    75.00
    Betsson
    75.00
    To Win
    Gareth Bale
    Rizk
    100.00
    Betsson
    100.00
    To Win
    Martin Braithwaite
    Rizk
    100.00
    Betsson
    100.00
    To Win
    Marcus Rashford
    Rizk
    100.00
    Betsson
    100.00

    How to Bet on Golden Ball Award

    Are you checking out World Cup best player betting markets? That's great. We do that all the time ourselves. However, now is the right time to transition from looking at World Cup Golden Ball betting markets to wagering on them. In four simple steps, learn how to bet on the WC Best Player award:

    • Estimated Time Needed: 00:04
    • Tools Needed: Account
    • Supplies Needed: Time, Money
    Shortlist the Best Players on betpack Step 1

    Step 1: Shortlist the Best Players

    First, draw up a bunch of players you think will be in the running for the 2022 World Cup Best Player award. This group will probably include players such as permanent Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe and arguably the best player in the English Premier League - Kevin De Bruyne. It will also likely feature serial Ballon d'Or winners C. Ronaldo and L. Messi - the latter being the man who hopes to lead Argentina to World Cup glory.

    Make Your Pick on betpack Step 2

    Step 2: Make Your Pick 

    The next step is to pick the player you will back. Before going for one individual, though, think of how many games he will take part in. The more matches the player appears in, the better his chances of being selected as the best player of the WC. Most Golden Ball Winners reach the final or at least the semi-finals of the World Cup and play six or seven games.

    Find the Best Odds at betpack Step 3

    Step 3: Find the Best Odds

    Now that you have picked your player, find the bookmaker that gives you the best value. Our advice is to go with one of the top betting sites we feature and see which one gives you enticing betting WC best player odds. You will probably find several bookmakers with pretty high World Cup Golden Ball betting returns at Betpack, so pick the bookie that seems like a good fit.

    Place Your Golden Ball Bet Step 4

    Step 4: Place Your Golden Ball Bet

    The time has come for you to place your Golden Ball bet. Go to the Sports section in your selected bookie's website/application, pick Football, and click on World Cup. Once there, you will see different World Cup betting markets. Click on Outrights and find the World Cup Best Player betting market. Click on the odds next to the player you want to back and place your bet. Good luck!

    History of the WC Golden Ball Award

    The Golden Ball was first introduced at the 1982 World Cup in Spain and Paolo Rossi was the winner. In 1986, the legendary Diego Maradona won the award after he guided Argentina to the WC trophy, whereas in 1990, Salvatore Schillaci won the Best Player WC award representing hosts Italy.

    Two star players from Brazil, Romario and Ronaldo won the Golden Ball WC award in the finals of 1994 and 1998, while goalkeeper Oliver Kahn from Germany took the award home in 2002. Former Real Madrid player and coach and leader of the French national team, Zinedine Zidane, won the Golden Ball in 2006, followed by Diego Forlan (2010), Lionel Messi (2014), and Luka Modric (2018).

    Golden Ball Award vs France Football Ballon d'Or

    The Golden Ball and France Football Ballon d'Or awards are given to the best football players. However, there's one big difference between them. The Golden Ball WC award is given to the best footballer in each of the World Cups, where players represent their nations. As we already mentioned, for this award, the technical committee shortlist the best footballers and the media vote and name the winner.

    In contrast, France Football's award is intended for the player who performed the best during the season and is given for international and club achievements. For instance, the French football magazine gave the award to C. Ronaldo in 2017 because he was the best player for the Los Blancos, scored a lot of important goals, and his team were the champions of Europe.

    Our Prediction for the World Cup 2022 Best Player

    Kylian Mbappe is the favourite to win the WC Best Player award and also leads the pack when it comes to how bookies see the situation. However, he is not our pick to be the winner of the much-coveted award because we feel he is still not the leader of his national team. We would much rather go with C. Ronaldo. The Portuguese star collected the EURO 2020 Top Goal Scorer award and notched five goals. Ronaldo's game is second to none, and since this could be his last big international tournament, we think he will go all in and will top betting WC Best Player charts.

    Could Messi Win It?

    If you agree with many bookies and see La Albiceleste as one of the favourites, Lionel Messi might just end up being selected as the most valuable player in Qatar. He was able to do it in Copa America, and even though the stakes are even bigger now, he has shown his doubters that he can deliver on the international level as well. On top of his ability to score, Messi is nowadays a well-seasoned playmaker as well, and that increases his possibility to win this respected individual award if Argentina goes far in the WC 2022.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is likely to win the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot?

    There are several World Cup Golden Ball betting favourites, and each one comes in with a decent chance to win the award. Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Brazil duo Neymar and Gabriel Jesus all have the chance to be the winner.

    Are the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot the same?

    No, they aren't. The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals at the World Cup. In contrast, the Golden Ball is given to the player who the technical committee and the media think performed the best during the World Cup.

    Who is the favourite in World Cup Best Player betting markets?

    According to bookmakers, Kylian Mbappe (France) has the best chance to win the award and has the lowest Golden Ball odds. Other World Cup Golden Ball betting front runners include Harry Kane (England), Neymar (Brazil), Karim Benzema (France), Messi (Argentina), and a couple of more best players in the world.

    Our odds and reviews have been featured in:
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