MADRID, Aug. 13 (.) –
The Paris Saint-Germain player Kylian Mbappé acknowledged that he would love to win the Ballon d’Or and is considered one of the three main favorites for the 2022 edition along with his compatriot Karim Benzema and the new Bayern player Sadio Mané.
“It’s a big lie to say that a footballer isn’t interested in the Ballon d’Or. It’s hypocrisy to say that. We all think about this award. We talk about a team and a collective, because in some way it serves to camouflage our ambition, but it’s honest to admit that we care”, said Mbappé in statements to ‘France Football’, which this Friday made public the list of the 30 nominees for the award.
Mbappe, included in the payroll, is convinced that he has his options despite not having won the Champions League. The French striker scored 39 goals in all competitions and was crowned Ligue 1 champion with PSG last season.
However, no player from the top five European leagues has matched Mbappe’s total of 60 assists on the campaign, although his teammate in France, Benzema, is the clear favorite after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League and trophies. of LaLiga and the Spanish and European Super Cup.
“I’ve always wanted to do it early,” he added of winning the Ballon d’Or. “Without limiting my dreams. I want to win it and I don’t mind admitting it. I’m convinced that lifting first is the hardest thing. Once you’ve officially entered that group selected, it will be easier to revalidate it,” he said.
“For two years I have been a more real candidate for the award. Before I was content with being among the top 10. Now, on the other hand, I am among the four or five most regular,” said Mbappé, who revealed that he speaks with his teammates about this reward.
“We don’t talk about the Ballon d’Or in January, but we comment when the lists appear. Then, as the ceremony approaches, it’s obviously a topic of conversation in the group. We make our bets, we debate our opinions,” he said.
Asked about his ‘top’ three in this edition, the French international had no doubts: “I think Benzema, Mané and me,” said Mbappé, whose first nomination for the Ballon d’Or came in 2017, when the then Real Madrid striker , Cristiano Ronaldo, beat Lionel Messi and Neymar in the award.
