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Who are the Favorites to Win the Ballon d’Or Following Wild UEFA Champions League Semifinals?

The drama of the UEFA Champions League semifinals never fails to captivate, and this year was certainly no different. Inter Milan somehow managed to outlast Barcelona in one of the greatest knockout ties the most prestigious tournament in European club football has ever seen. Despite throwing away two goal leads in both the first and second legs, the Nerazzurri managed to win 7-6 on aggregate thanks to Davide Frattesi’s brilliant curling extra time winner. 

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain successfully weathered Arsenal’s early storm to seal their second-ever final appearance. Leading 1-0 from the first leg, the Ligue 1 champions had to navigate a blistering start from the Gunners in which the Premier League side could have had three goals in the first six minutes had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Ultimately, though, they saw off the challenge, winning the second leg 2-1 in addition to their 1-0 win at the Emirates to punch their tickets to the Munich showpiece. 

Inter and PSG Set for Munich Collision

Now, both Inter and PSG will meet at the Allianz Arena on May 31st with the famous big-eared trophy on the line, and the online sports betting sites have an obvious favorite. The latest online sports betting at Bovada odds make the French outfit the clear -148 favorites, with their Italian counterparts a +122 underdog. But how has their respective progressions to the final affected the favorites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or? 

The Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best player in the world every year, and winning the Champions League usually plays a major role in who walks away with the biggest solo prize in the game. For five straight years between 2013 and 2018, a player who shone in the tournament went on to win the Ballon d’Or. However, only one player in the years since has followed that trend, namely Karim Benzema in 2022. 

So, how have the recent UCL semifinal results affected the Ballon d’Or betting odds? Let’s find out. 

Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele’s odds of +200 underscore his status as the current favorite for the Ballon d’Or. He has been the favourite to win the award consistently for the last few months, and Paris Saint-Germain’s recent victory against Arsenal has cemented his frontrunner status. The French attacking wizard scored one and assisted another in the two legs against the Gunners, and leading his side to victory against Inter in Munich will surely see his odds slashed further. 

Dembele has come of age in his second season in Paris, finally looking like the player that prompted Barcelona to fork out a mighty €145m for his services eight years ago. Now he has matured, and at 27 years of age, he is finally the superstar he always promised to be. 

Manager Luis Enrique has played the former Borussia Dortmund man centrally rather than on the wing this term, and the results – 33 goals and 13 assists in 46 appearances – speak for themselves. If he can lead his side to the trophy, surely he is a shoo-in for a maiden Ballon d’Or. 

Lamine Yamal

At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal has taken the footballing world by storm. His maturity on the pitch belies his youth, and with odds at +350, he’s emerged as a legitimate contender for the Ballon d’Or. The Barcelona youngster burst onto the scene last season, breaking into the Barcelona first team at just 16 years of age before leading Spain to Euro 2024 glory in Germany last summer. All of that from someone who can’t legally buy a pint of beer in his homeland until July. 

His 2024/25 season has been equally remarkable. So far, Yamal has tallied 15 goals and a whopping 24 assists for the Blaugrana, consistently demonstrating composure far beyond his years. The semifinal duel against Inter Milan saw Yamal sparkle, but unfortunately for him, Nerazzurri shot stopper Yann Sommer was up to the task, saving from the teenager time and time again while helping Inter to the final. 

That defeat will hurt Yamal’s Ballon d’Or hopes somewhat, and his odds of glory have drifted already. But even still, there is no denying the fact that he will certainly win the award multiple times over before his career is out. 

Gianluigi Donnarumma

It’s rare for goalkeepers to contend for the Ballon d’Or. Only one shot-stopper has claimed the award throughout its illustrious history, and that came way back in 1963 when russian Lev Yashin secured the honor. Indeed, current Paris Saint-Germain man Gianluigi Donnarumma wasn’t considered a contender for the award, but a blistering display against Arsenal in the Champions League semifinals has seen his odds slashed to +500. 

But the Italian number one is no ordinary shot-stopper. He was named the player of the tournament following his exploits in leading the Azzurri to the European Championship in 2021, and now the PSG custodian is the foundation of his club’s success as well, especially in the Champions League. He saved two penalties in the Round of 16 penalty shootout victory against Liverpool, and his recent exploits against Arsenal were arguably even more impressive. If he can do the same against Inter in the final, his odds may well shorten even further. 

Lamine Yamal