The Dutchman’s performance in the Champions League has seen him become third-favourite to win the coveted award next year, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

If you had suggested at half-time in the Champions League final on Saturday that Arjen Robben would become one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or for 2013 you would have been laughed at.

The winger’s profligacy was infuriating for Bayern Munich fans, who were reminded all-too-vividly of his wastefulness against Chelsea 12 months ago.

However, his turnaround in fortunes in the latter 45 minutes will live long in the memory. His created the first goal for Mario Mandzukic to tap home and then scored the winner with less than two minutes left in the game to make it 2-1.

As is often the case following a continental or international final, the star performer has hogged the headlines and, as a result, rocketed to 12/1 (13.0) to win the Ballon d’Or. The only two players whom Paddy Power perceive as having more chance of winning the prestigious award.

Lionel Messi, of course, remains the favourite. The Barcelona star has triumphed in the previous four ceremonies and has continued to excel despite being hampered by a hamstring injury.

Paddy Power have the Argentine magician available at an industry-best 1/1 (2.0) – mouth-wateringly good value if you think he is nailed on for a record fifth-straight win.

However, many punters might feel that Barca’s blundering Champions League semi-final games against Bayern will have had an effect on who voters will root for when the ballot papers arrive. Messi remains an undisputed forerunner in this race but could he sit this year out?

Cristiano Ronaldo is just behind Messi odds-wise, as is the case every season it seems, and he is available at 11/8 (2.38) to win his second Ballon d’Or. Although he has been superb throughout 2013, Real Madrid’s poor 2012-13 campaign will have hampered his chances of success this time, though there is still another seven months for the Portuguese forward to impress.

If reports are to be believed, the Santiago Bernabeu may gain another contender for the individual honour this summer. Gareth Bale has been heavily linked with a move from Tottenham as he continues to develop in world-class leaps and bounds. The Welsh winger is available at 20/1 (21.0).

Also at 20/1 (21.0), joint-fourth favourite as of the end of May, Robert Lewandowski has muscled his way into the reckoning by being consistently prolific in the Bundesliga and helping fire Borussia Dortmund into the Champions League final.

Although Lewandowski did not score in the showpiece at Wembley, his four goals in BVB’s home leg against the Blancos in the last four will not be forgotten anytime soon. If Monday’s suggestions from his agent are to be believed then the striker will be under Pep Guardiola’s wing at Bayern next season.

If you’re a punter that likes to think outside of the box then Camp Nou’s latest addition Neymar could get your betting juices flowing. Paddy Power have him available at 50/1 (51.0) – lower odds than Manchester United forward Robin van Persie at 60.1 (61.0), Paris Saint-Germain talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic at 80/1 (81.1) and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez at 125/1 (126.1).

However, as of the halfway stage in 2013, Robben’s heroics in Europe certainly make him the pick of the bunch for those looking for value in what looked to have become a boring two-horse race between the phenomenal Messi and Ronaldo.

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The president of Zimbabwe says football is not like war and had some strong words for the Uruguayan after the controversial incident during Liverpool’s match against Chelsea

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has received some criticism from the most unlikely of sources, as Robert Mugabe, the dictatorial president of Zimbabwe, labelled the Uruguayan “highly unprofessional”.

The remarks come in response to the now-infamous incident at Anfield in April when Suarez appeared to bite Branislav Ivanovic during the Reds’ Premier League fixture against Chelsea.

Mugabe, himself a more than controversial figure, is said to be a Chelsea fan and reserved some strong words for the Uruguayan forward.

“It was highly unprofessional for Luis Suarez to bite Branislav Ivanovic,” the 89-year old said according to the Sunday People. “Sporting events are contests and not declarations of war.

“Contests come at various levels. We have contests here in Zimbabwe like Dynamos versus Highlanders – those are contests at lower levels.

“They must train participants to recognise the reality of sport. Sport is sport – it is not war. But football seems now to have become a biting game. And a professional using his teeth…?”

The Spanish left-back rues mistakes early in the 2012-13 campaign that stranded the Reds in seventh place but believes they are developing towards a Champions League push

Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique says Champions League qualification must be his side’s aim in 2013-14.

The Reds finished 2012-13 in seventh place, 12 points behind Arsenal in fourth, but the Spaniard believes they have developed under manager Brendan Rodgers and will continue to do so over pre-season.

“The top four has to be our target next season,” Enrique remarked to the Liverpool Echo.

“It will be difficult as, even with new managers, the top clubs will spend a lot this summer to strengthen but I don’t think we have to worry about the rest, we just have to worry about ourselves.

“The reason we weren’t in the top four this season isn’t because of any other team, it’s because of our own mistakes.

“I think this is the best league in the world with so many teams fighting for those top places. Next season we hope we will be there.

“In terms of where we are in the league, it has not been a great season for us. Liverpool cannot be there – they have to be much higher for sure. You can see there are 12 points’ difference between us and the top four but, in terms of being a football team, we have moved forward.

“We had some problems earlier in the season when we lost many points and now we regret that. We wanted to do well from the start but it was a different type of football with a new manager and a new type of training.”

Some of the Liverpool squad have had trouble adapting to Rodgers’s passing style, Enrique explained, though his previous experience in La Liga had prepared him personally.

“I was one of those players who had played this style before when I was in Spain but a lot of players were not used to it,” he added.

“Brendan wants us to play good football and I think every player is really happy with this way of working. Of course it takes time but since January we have done really well. Come next season we will be more used to this style and the system and we’ll work better together.”