• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Kylian Mbappe names himself in his top three for the Ballon d’Or award

Home> Football

Published 12:47 13 Aug 2022 GMT+1

Kylian Mbappe names himself in his top three for the Ballon d’Or award

The 30-man shortlist for the award was announced on Friday evening.

Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

Kylian Mbappe has included himself when asked who should finish in the top three for this year’s Ballon d’Or award. 

Last year, Mbappe’s Paris Saint Germain team mate Lionel Messi picked up the award ahead of Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho.

However, all three names were left out of Mbappe’s top three for this year, with Messi left out of the 30-man shortlist that was announced by France Football on Friday evening all together. 

Messi’s omission signalled the end of the Argentina legend’s 17 year run of being nominated for football’s most prestigious award. 

Advert

Image
Alamy

Mbappe is amongst the favourites alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, Kevin de Bruyne and Sadio Mane. The PSG star has now backed Benzema to take home the award. 

Benzema is many fans’ choice after he played a vital role in helping Real Madrid win both the La Liga and the Champions League last season.

Mbappe told L’Equipe: “My top three? I would say Benzema, myself, and Mané. I would say that this year is a success for Benzema. 

Advert

“He’s 34 years old, has just had the season of his life, has won another Champions League and is often decisive.” 

He added: “If I were Karim, if I don’t win this, I’ll stop thinking about the Ballon d’Or forever. I want to win the Ballon d’Or very soon. Like many. Except that there are perhaps not many who dare to admit it. I’m still convinced that the hardest thing is to win the first.

Image
Alamy

The 23-year-old then spoke about his development and his chances of winning the award. 

Advert

He said: “I think that my 18-21 year old period allowed me to stabilise in the Top 10. I wasn’t an impactful enough player. 

“For the last two years, I think I have reached a new level, I have a more assertive status on the pitch, I am doing better in the decisive matches. In short, I am a more credible and serious candidate.”

Since 2008, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or award, with the pair winning all but one in the last 14 years. With Messi and Ronaldo now way off the rest, Mbappe spoke about the pair’s battle for the accolade. 

Image
Alamy

Advert

He said: “As for all those of my generation, the Ballon d'Or is necessarily associated with the battle between Leo (Messi) and Cristiano (Ronaldo). By digging really deep in my memory, I remember a little bit also Ronaldinho (winner in 2005).” 

Messi was without doubt the high profile omission from the shortlist. England players Harry Kane, Trent Alexander Arnold and Phil Foden did however make it in.

The winner is set to be announced on October 17.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema

Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal fans demand the same signing after watching Real Madrid vs Juventus

    Real defeated Juventus 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Real Madrid on the verge of making Club World Cup history after Juventus win

    Real defeated Juventus in a round of 16 clash at the Club World Cup.

    Football
  • 8 hours ago

    Real Madrid fans think it's time for a difficult conversation about one player despite Juventus win

    Not every Real fan was upbeat after their 1-0 win over Juventus.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Brandon Williams linked with shock move to reunite with former Man Utd manager in bid to revive his career

    Williams has been a free agent since leaving United last summer.

    Football
  • Karim Benzema snubs Kylian Mbappe as he names France's best three players
  • Luis Figo names the only player who can rival Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele for Ballon d'Or
  • The Super Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious and rare award only ONE player has ever won
  • Neymar named his top four players for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed