Lionel Messi Favourite For The 2009 FIFA World Player Of The Year Title Over Cristiano Ronaldo

The debate over whether Lionel Messi should have won the FIFA award is almost over now and interest has shifted to the 2009 Awards already. Many UK bookmakers have come out with odds on the 2009 FIFA World Footballer honour and are in favour of Argentinean Lionel Messi to get it this time.By winning the 2008 FIFA World Footballer of the Year award, Cristiano Ronaldo has completed the hat-trick of awards and proven that 2008 really belonged to the 23 year old Portuguese footballer. He had earlier won the European footballer of the year prize and the Ballon d'Or in Dec 2008.Lionel Messi has been in great form in the past few months and is a key part of the Barcelona team who are tipped for the domestic and Champions league titles.British bookmakers Skybet make Messi their 13/8 favourite for 2009. On the contrary William Hills are still siding with Ronaldo and make Messi 11/4 second favourite.Cristiano Ronaldo is second favourite with Skybet and they give some great odds of 3/1 for the Portuguese footballing sensation. William Hills still have him at as low as 9/4.Brazilian Kaka is next at 4/1 while Fernando Torres is available for 5/1.Ronaldo had 48 goals to his credit in 2008 and is setting the same standards for himself in 2009 also."I expect to do the same this season - to play well, win trophies collectively and individually, as I did last season," said the 23-year-old."I had a great time with my United teammates and I expect we can repeat it."Ronaldo described collecting the Fifa world player trophy from footballing great Pele as "a fantastic moment"."I feel great," he told the official Fifa website."I am very happy. It's amazing to receive this award for what I did in 2008."Betting Choice feels that punters can make a safe bet by betting on both Ronaldo and Messi at the best odds for a sure bet in 2009. Bet on Messi at 11/4 at William Hill and on Ronaldo at 3/1 at Skybet for a sure-shot payout of 12/8 if Ronaldo wins the FIFA award again and 11/8 if it goes to Messi. Either way, it's a safe bet to back the top two footballers at this moment in the world.