While many commentators imagine a duel between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland in the quest for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, some indeed imagine Kylian Mbappé beating everyone to the post.
Since Argentina’s coronation in Qatar, Lionel Messi has been the big favorite to succeed Karim Benzema on the Ballon d’Or list. The Argentinian, however, had just one season with PSG and had to go into exile in MLS this summer. But the World Cup coronation should be enough for him to win his eighth career Ballon d’Or.
The former Parisian, however, faces a major rival in the person of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has indeed panicked the scorers like no other with Manchester City, ultimately posting 52 goals in 53 matches, and has a lot to do with the incredible quadruple won by the Citizens. But seen from France, a third man could make everyone agree: Kylian Mbappé. This is the opinion of Didier Deschamps, who considers that it would be unfair if his star striker did not win this Ballon d’Or, or of Adrien Rabiot, for whom it must be played out between the Bondynois and Erling Haaland.
And journalist Loïc Tanzi is on the same line. “For me, he was as impactful as Messi in the World Cup, even if he didn’t win it and above all, I think that PSG were not French champions last season without Kylian Mbappé. He was decisive for his team for many months even if he had less good shots, he explained on the set of Greg’s team. He held the team for several months. And since the number one criterion is the impact he had on his team, he is the one who deserves it. More than Messi who had a great World Cup. He was brilliant but then he was not impactful with Paris-Saint-Germain and was also eliminated in the round of 16 of the Champions League. »
