It’s still not this year that Kylian Mbappé will win the Ballon d’Or. Once again, the Frenchman leaves the reward to Leo Messi, his former teammate at PSG, with whom he shared the top billing during the last final of the last World Cup won by the Argentinian. Moreover, without Emiliano Martinez’s stop in front of Kolo Muani, Monday evening’s result would undoubtedly have been modified. History does not need to be rewritten and Mbappé has never seemed so close to winning the most beautiful individual trophy. 7th in 2017, 4th in 2018, 6th in 2019, 9th in 2021 and 6th last year, he finished on the podium for the first time with this 3rd place at 24 years old. This is his best ranking while, paradoxically, we are starting to get impatient to see his time come. But what must he do to finally be crowned?
Since the start of his career, he has been heralded as the prodigy of world football. In fact, being crowned world champion at just 18 years old by scoring in the final is not given to everyone. The future holds out its arms to him. He is the future but already the present. After 15 years of duels between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, his time has come to take over, with the help of Erling Haaland, 2nd last night. Even Messi did not say the opposite when presenting the trophy. “He is still a very young player. Both of them, in fact. I know that in the future we will find them again. Erling has had an extraordinary career. He won different titles. I am convinced that, very soon, they will be winners of this Ballon d’Or.”
Mbappé already has an advantage over Haaland for 2024
The two attackers are already seen as favorites for next season. Mbappé, Haaland but also Vinicius Jr (6th yesterday), Jude Bellingham (18th) and Jamal Musiala (26th) all play the protagonists of the upcoming ceremonies. This year 2024 is already shaping up to be very exciting for the top scorer in PSG history. Like most of his competitors, he got off to a very good start with his 12 goals in 12 club matches in all competitions. He also scored with the Blues against Scotland and already knows that next year’s Ballon d’Or will mainly be decided by the selections. For that, 2024 looks particularly attractive.
The prospect of the Euro and the Olympic Games can offer some legitimate ambitions to Mbappé. In the event of a coronation, particularly for the continental competition, and good performances (that goes without saying), the captain of the Blues will certainly be one of the contenders. He will always have that more than Erling Haaland, inevitably handicapped in even years with Norway, whom he fails to make shine. The Mancunien can boast of having won the Champions League at the age of 22 in a team better structured than PSG. This is one of the areas of improvement for the Frenchman: taking his club far in C1, he who only played one final in 2020. And he was weakened by an injury. Domino effect requires, a new failure at a premature stage would undoubtedly precipitate his transfer.
Leaving PSG to finally win the Ballon d’Or?
This is the other way for him to reach the Grail that he has dreamed of since he was little. Unable to win the Big Ears Cup with the capital club, Mbappé would this time be determined to leave, he whose contract ends at the end of the season. After extending his contract a year and a half ago, when Real Madrid extended their arms to him, he would probably join the Merengues, an institution used to winning, even when you don’t expect it. “Next year in Madrid or not?” a Spanish journalist even said to him last night as he left the Châtelet theater. No doubt to remind him that Casa Blanca has produced 12 Ballon d’Or winners in its history…
