Third in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, Kylian Mbappé was certain that Lionel Messi would be elected. It had been settled since the World Cup final.
Kylian Mbappé is not bitter. Third in the last Ballon d’Or, the best ranking of his career, the PSG and French team striker was one of the candidates for the trophy. Among his arguments: his hat-trick in the World Cup final, his title as top scorer in the World Cup, victory in Ligue 1 with PSG, and the new title of top scorer in the French championship.
However, Mbappé sees a certain logic in the election of Lionel Messi. “The ranking is what it is. Messi deserves it. When Messi wins a World Cup, he has to win the Ballon d’Or, that’s how it works. He’s one of the best players in history, if not the best.”explained the captain of the France team this Friday at a press conference.
For Mbappé, the suspense had disappeared since December 2022, and the vote was a foregone conclusion. “On the evening of the 18th (December 18, the day of the World Cup final, editor’s note), I knew that he had won the World Cup AND the Ballon d’Or, explains Mbappé. Everyone knew it. Erling had a great season, I had a great season, but next to a World Cup won by Messi, it doesn’t weigh much. »
