Kylian Mbappe snubbed Ronaldo as he named his top three choices for the 2022 Ballon d’Or award.
Mbappe is one of the players on this year’s 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, which was won by Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain last November for a record-breaking seventh time.
Kylian Mbappe has stated who, in addition to himself on the podium, he thinks should place in the top three of the Ballon d’Or this year.
Last year’s winner was Lionel Messi, with Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho rounding out the top three. Mbappe, however, omits all three of them, and Messi, his PSG teammate, is also completely excluded from France Football’s shortlist.
Mbappe, along with Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, and Robert Lewandowski, is one of the favorites instead. Mbappe has since backed Real Madrid star Karim Benzema to win the award for best player in the world at the year’s end.
Last season, Benzema contributed to Los Blancos’ victories in the Champions League and La Liga. Even so, Mbappe insisted that he also deserves to win, setting it as a career goal for himself.
My top three?” Mané, Benzema, and I, I suppose. I would say that Benzema has had a successful year. He’s 34 years old, just finished the best season of his life, has another Champions League win under his belt, and is frequently the difference maker,” he told L’Equipe.
If I were Karim, I would never again consider winning the Ballon d’Or if I don’t win this. I’m eager to take home the Ballon d’Or. like a lot. Except that perhaps fewer people would dare to admit it. I’m still of the opinion that taking first place is the hardest thing to do.
“I believe that between the ages of 18 and 21, I was able to maintain a Top 10 ranking. I wasn’t having enough of an impact. I believe that over the past two years, I have advanced to a new level. I am more self-assured on the field, and I perform better in pivotal games. In a nutshell, I am a more serious and credible candidate.
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the Ballon d’Or every year but one since 2008, dominating the competition. Mbappe acknowledged that he enjoyed watching the rivalry between the two superstars, even though that stranglehold is expected to be broken this year.
“As for my generation as a whole, the Ballon d’Or is inextricably linked to the matchup between Leo (Messi) and Cristiano” (Ronaldo). I was able to recall a small portion of Ronaldinho (the 2005 winner) by really digging deep in my memory, he continued.
But, in all honesty, the two gluttons who shared the prize for such a long time have ruined it all. Like everyone else, I wondered each year which of the two would win. When you think about it, this mano a mano was pretty crazy.
“It was entertaining to watch them when they were close to one another on ceremonial days. Trying to determine which of the two appeared more irate or irate because he knew he hadn’t won based on the expressions on their faces.”
Ronaldo made the 30-man shortlist this year, but Messi was conspicuously absent. The list is dominated by Premier League players, but there are only three Englishmen—Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, and Harry Kane.
