Kylian Mbappé, the Paris Saint-Germain player, believed that Lionel Messi's World Cup victory with the Argentina national team was enough for him to win the Ballon d'Or award, which he deserved.
The French international came in third place in the Ballon d'Or voting, after Messi and Erling Haaland, Manchester City's top scorer and winner of the historic treble last season.
In the press conference for the Gibraltar match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Mbappe was asked about the Ballon d’Or, and he answered in clear words, “After the 2022 World Cup final, I knew that Messi would win the Ballon d’Or.”
He also added, "Messi deserved the Ballon d'Or. He is one of the best players in the world, if not the best already."
The 24-year-old continued, "Winning the World Cup is the most important thing. Haaland had a wonderful season and so did I, but after the World Cup nothing matters."
Haaland later won the “Golden Player” award presented by Tuttosport magazine, ahead of Mbappe.
Months before the Ballon d'Or, Haaland won another award for himself, which is the best player in Europe presented by the European Football Association.
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