Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe firmly believes in his ability to secure his inaugural Ballon d’Or triumph after experiencing another remarkable year with both his club and national team.
Although Mbappe was unable to secure a second World Cup title in 2022, and PSG couldn’t position themselves for Champions League glory, his exceptional goal-scoring abilities led Les Parisiens to victory in Ligue 1.
Kylian Mbappe believes that he would be a worthy recipient of the Ballon d’Or. Photo credit: @brfootball/Twitter @francefootball/Twitter
At the individual level, the 24-year-old French talent concluded the season as the leading goal scorer for both his club and country, netting an impressive 54 goals, a tally he shares with Erling Haaland, per Transfermarkt.
Additionally, Mbappe triumphed in the World Cup and Ligue 1, clinching the coveted top scorer’s accolade in both competitions.
When questioned about his eligibility to contend for the title of the world’s best player, Mbappe responded:
“It’s difficult to talk about an individual trophy because you have to put yourself forward, and that isn’t well perceived by the general public,” he said, as quoted by GFFN.
“What are the new criteria? Is it catching the eye and being impactful? I think I meet the criteria. We’ll see. It’s the people who vote, but I’m always optimistic.”
Mbappe sets a new milestone
In Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Greece, France emerged victorious with a narrow one-nil win, courtesy of Mbappe’s outstanding performance, Sports Brief reported.
The talented striker not only secured the victory, but also set yet another remarkable goal-scoring record.
Mbappe’s retaken penalty propelled him to become the highest-scoring Frenchman in a single season for both club and country, surpassing the legendary Just Fontaine with an impressive tally of 54 goals.
Ballon d’Or: Mbappe battles Messi
Sports Brief also reported that the 2023 Ballon d’Or debate has gotten into full swing following the conclusion of the European season after the Champions League final on June 10.
The World Cup is often a strong indicator of who will win, with Lionel Messi believed to be leading the race for the coveted gong, yet Haaland has since immersed himself in that debate following his treble-winning campaign with Manchester City.
Aside from the Man City sharp-shooting striker, Messi is set to battle it out with now-former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe for the 2023 edition of the Ballon d’Or award.