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Odds-on Messi expected to sweep Fifa awards

LIONEL MESSI is expected to sweep the boards at the Fifa gala to announce the winner of the Ballon d’Or and Puskas awards.

The Barcelona superstar is 1-7 with Betfair and Paddy Power to be voted the world’s best player by picking up the Ballon d’Or after the three-man shortlist was confirmed.

Great rival Cristiano Ronaldo is 8-1 to retain the honour he won in 2013 and 2014 with Messi’s Barcelona team-mate, Neymar, the outsider of the three at 10-1 with Sky Bet. It is the first time Neymar has been on the podium.

Messi has won the Ballon d’Or four times in its various guises but he is still waiting for his first Puskas award – a public vote to determine the best goal of the year.

However, that should change this year with Messi 4-11 with Power to take the award for his superb solo goal against Athletic Bilbao.

Wendell Lira is 7-1 with Hills to beat Messi and Alessandro Florenzi, who scored a long-range effort against Barca in the Champions League, can also be backed at 7-1 with Sky Bet.

The awards will be presented in Zurich on January 11.

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