According to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Kylian Mbappe will win after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leave top football.
“When Messi and Ronaldo retire, Mbappe will follow their path. He will win many Golden Balls,” Emiliano Martinez said in French newspaper L’Equipe on November 2.
The Argentina goalkeeper also affirmed that Mbappe is an example for young players to follow and is an extraordinary player. He used the evidence of Mbappe winning the 2018 World Cup at a very young age, going to the next World Cup final and scoring a hat-trick. According to Martinez, French fans should be proud to have such a player.
Martinez also denied disrespecting Mbappe. On the contrary, in many aspects, he highly appreciates the French star. “It’s not without reason that he is considered one of the best players in the world. I have a lot of respect for him as a player and a man,” Martinez said.
Last year, after the World Cup final between Argentina and France, Martinez is said to have gathered his teammates to “spend a minute of silence for Mbappe”. Then, during the victory celebration in Argentina, the 31-year-old goalkeeper was also spotted holding a doll with a mask of the French striker.
Martinez’s actions have angered French fans. On October 30, after receiving the Yashin award for best goalkeeper of the year from France Football magazine, Martinez was booed by many fans. The situation was so tense that MC Didier Drogba had to speak up to mediate.
Mbappe has never won the Golden Ball. In the 2023 race, the PSG striker only finished third, behind Messi and Erling Haaland. Messi set a record for winning his eighth Golden Ball, while increasing the gap with second-placed Ronaldo to three titles. Legends Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten ranked third, with three titles.
Last year, in the World Cup final, Mbappe himself scored a hat-trick against Martinez. However, France only drew 3-3 with Argentina in 120 minutes and lost 2-4 in the penalty shootout. After the match, Mbappe won the Golden Boot and World Cup Silver Ball, while Messi won the Silver Boot and Golden Ball.