Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe told AFP on Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain football's greatest players but that his own World Cup heroics could help crown him the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner.
Mbappe, 19, inspired France to World Cup victory in Russia with four goals. One of those came in the 4-2 final victory over Croatia as he became just the second teenager after Pele in 1958 to score in the championship match.
He was also voted Young Player of the tournament and has since become Ligue 1's leading scorer with 11 goals as Paris Saint-Germain run away with the French title.
Messi and Ronaldo have won the last 10 Ballon d'Or awards and Mbappe believes that they are still the sport's top A-listers.
"Nobody is doing better at the moment and we can't say it's the end of their era because it will only end when somebody else does better than them," Mbappe told AFP.
However, the young striker added: "I don't think one of them will win the Ballon d'Or this year because it was a World Cup year, and the World Cup takes precedence."
While Mbappe thrived at the World Cup, Messi's Argentina and Ronaldo's Portugal bowed out in the last 16.
"But if you take the player in the purest form, there's nobody better yet. This year they were again the best two," added Mbappe.
"Messi finished the best goalscorer in Europe; Ronaldo was the top scorer in the Champions League."
Mbappe was speaking to AFP on Thursday at an event organised by watchmakers Hublot, one of his leading sponsors.
The last French player to win the coveted Ballon d'Or was Zinedine Zidane after the national team's 1998 World Cup victory.
"Frankly, I hope so (win the Ballon d'Or). We achieved something big. It would not be unjust because that is a strong word, but it would be a shame if a Frenchman does not win it.
"We made history and it would be nice to be rewarded."
Croatia's Luka Modric, voted Best Player of the World Cup, remains favourite for the Ballon d'Or.
However, Modric is 14 years Mbappe's senior so the young Frenchman has time on his side.
He will also have time and opportunity to complete his journey from the tough streets of the down-at-heel Paris suburb of Bondy to a life of super-riches.
'Play to win'
Mbappe, who will turn 20 just before Christmas, signed for PSG from Monaco for 180 million euros in 2017 in the second most expensive transfer of all time -- behind PSG teammate Neymar who cost the French champions 222 million euros.
Off the field, he seems destined to match Ronaldo in the commercial stakes.
Will his initials "KM" match the brand power of Ronaldo's "CR7"?
"I don't know because CR7 is something big, he has managed to build his brand and become international," said Mbappe.
"Mine is not at this stage yet, I'm changing little by little."
That development into the public consciousness saw him dominate the front page of Time magazine in October with the American publisher breathlessly showcasing the teenage as "the future of football".
Mbappe said that he will not be satisfied with winning just one World Cup.
When asked what he wants to win next, he said: "All the World Cups that I can play.
"I play to win; if I play four World Cups then I want to win four. We go step by step. I have already won one. You have to prepare and win with your club and with the national team also.
"There are short-term goals before thinking about the 2022 World Cup. But the aim always is to win."
On being tipped to be the next true superstar once Messi and Ronaldo have retired, Mpabbe added: "I cannot control everything that is done and said.
"There is not just the pitch but everything around it must also be managed. It's not easy but I'm learning, I'm still learning. I have people around me who help me overcome the challenges one after the other."
LM10BARCA10
463
he is good but not on the level of Messi and Ronaldo
Bahrsz
298
both Ronaldo and Messi won 10 Ballon do'r...[cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup] but Mbappe is one man will won those 10 in future ...[cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup][cup] he is the future king ...KM7 πππππππ
Henryrukis
282
well I am not disputing the fact that mbappe is not a good player. but people should stop comparing mbappe to Messi. messi at 19 has done more wonders than mbappe at 19.there are some players who are just destined to achieve one thing or the other.and mbappe together with griezman, Giroud, dembele, pogba, and the rest of them are just so privileged to be a world cup winner. if balon d'or award is given by performance of the year, Messi would certainly be dominating .what about Ronaldo the monster? he would be a winner as well.
Kudbdmpr
204
Messi will win the FIFA balloon d ' or award
FootballAddict
170
Mbappe,a great great young player,but unless he would win UCL in PSG shirt and PSG became like the main force in the europe,or he went on to join the tougher league and proves himsef there to be the best in the tougher and elite european leagues like la liga/EPL,he wont be described as the best footballer of the year to surpassed messi/ronaldo domination. Winning a world cup helps,but france has got so many good players to in there,its not about mbappe only. Playing in the france league,would never make him any better coz every week he would trash smaller teams and won by big margins,but PSG stumbled when given the real test facing big teams in europe. I hope he go elsewhere in tougher league,take that as a challenge and prove that he can be the best there too,win titles in much tougher league,and then only we can talk. Just as now,its incomparable..would he score as much and have assists as much if playing in another tough league like EPL,lal liga or serie A? We wont know,its unproven.
Punbdnorty
169
funny, every French player feels they deserve the ballon D' or after their World Cup win.. from griezmann to mbappe maybe next is Giroud [Sadtolook]
RichardBaffoe
152
This young boys who have never won a personal award in the world nowadays are talking,but they should remember that this is the start of their career.Messi and Ronaldo have been in form for 10 solid years. They have been winning the Balon'dor for this 10 years. Again they have been winning the UCL but Mbappe don't have any personal TROPHIES that he can challenge this two G.O.A.T with.
Wipimnotu
145
In 2010 Spain won the World Cup and still Messi was crowned the BalonDOr. Same with Germany who won the World Cup in 2014 but the prize went to Ronaldo. The World Cup may be the biggest tournament in the world, but that does not determine the best performance in football. Ronaldo and Messi are the only two that deserve it this year.
Heykei
144
well said mbappe but I don't think you will dominate the world FOR years like Ronaldo and Messi you will definitely have rival i don't know WHo it's gonna be but I'm sure you will be crowned ballon d'or winner.
FootballAddict
18
EPL is not as tough as u think,I see how man.city thrash teams that other top club struggles to beat by at most a goal margin, most of the teams just play physical football without pass accuracy,splitting passes,finness etc. Pep,Klopp,Conte r exposing this facts. Media so much hype this league and the English players there. Erick Dier plays one good game n d next mornin we are told he is better than Bousquet,Man.U wins Juve by luck and Lingard post photos of his abs. the only tactically sound team in EPL is Man city and they have the least physical players
As the matter of truth,it is worth noted that yes,epl teams have not won UCL for the past years,the only club from Epl that won it was chelsea on 2012,but anyway if epl team was not good enugh,they wouldnt reach the final of UCL last season right? And to talk about domination of citg in epl,its true that i think they are the best team in EPL rite now,but they are yet to face each other this season,and for ur info,in EPL right now,they are still 3 teams that went unbeaten until now,city,chelsea and liverpool,while arsenal had has like 11 games ubeaten in a row,and recently manchester united who looks like a weak team earlier had won vs juventus,and i wont call it just as luck,juve got plenty of chances but failed to capitalize their lead and united got like 2 chances and took them well and boom they won. And in europe,city havent really proved anythin,they even lost to liverpool,who eventually ended up as a runner up for the competition. So to say EPL is weak is a bit weird considering epl team was the runner up for the latest season of UCL. Anyway i would agree with u about england overhyped when they reach semi final of world cup,and dier case,bur about lingaard abs,hahaha come on dude,he was just joking and having a light moment comparing himself with one of the best footballer in the world,he knows himself that he never can be compared to the mighty ronaldo,dont get too serious man,the dude was just joking and having fun in the social media. Peace bro.
FootballAddict
17
Isnt there a difference btn World cup & Uefa Champions league? Which one do u rate higher than the other? Mind u, world cup represents the best that's why it begins with playing qualification matches from allover the world. If Messi has got anything he regrets, then its winning the World Cup! Mbappe is on fire, He is the new Shelf in Town.
Yes i would rate world cup higher than UCL,but world cup is a competition that held once in a years time. An another thing is the most prestigous football competition for international football is world cup,but the most coveted football competition in the world for club football (as it seems until now) is the UCL..(and thats only because whoever who won UCL would normally won the club world cup bcoz european league is the best league for club football in the world as it seems) so yes mbappe won the wolrd cup,but in france team,they also got griezmann,kante,varaane who played important part too in their route to winning world cup. But to be considered the best in the world,his performance for another 11 months in his club football should be counted too as world cup only counts as in a month of a year. Anyway he does excell too in in his club,but he is playing in a less tougher league,where he could trash small teams with 2-3 goals per game,but when he faced the big teams in UCL,he failed to shine...i love mbappe man,and i would like to see him shine but thats the truth,if he want to be the best in the world,either PSG need to be better and be as big and as strong as other european clubs and eventually win Ucl or mbappe just need to go to the bigger club and tougher league to prove himself that he can still shine there,and he must decide within few years whether to stay at the psg project or to go else where coz he aint gettin any younger tho. And about the world cup winning,what we gonna say about him next year if psg failed in another UCL? We cant say that oh he won world cup last year again and again right? Club football is important too bro. Peace man and thanks for ur opinion anyway π
zeeeeeek
13
Yes i would rate world cup higher than UCL,but world cup is a competition that held once in a years time. An another thing is the most prestigous football competition for international football is world cup,but the most coveted football competition in the world for club football (as it seems until now) is the UCL..(and thats only because whoever who won UCL would normally won the club world cup bcoz european league is the best league for club football in the world as it seems) so yes mbappe won the wolrd cup,but in france team,they also got griezmann,kante,varaane who played important part too in their route to winning world cup. But to be considered the best in the world,his performance for another 11 months in his club football should be counted too as world cup only counts as in a month of a year. Anyway he does excell too in in his club,but he is playing in a less tougher league,where he could trash small teams with 2-3 goals per game,but when he faced the big teams in UCL,he failed to shine...i love mbappe man,and i would like to see him shine but thats the truth,if he want to be the best in the world,either PSG need to be better and be as big and as strong as other european clubs and eventually win Ucl or mbappe just need to go to the bigger club and tougher league to prove himself that he can still shine there,and he must decide within few years whether to stay at the psg project or to go else where coz he aint gettin any younger tho. And about the world cup winning,what we gonna say about him next year if psg failed in another UCL? We cant say that oh he won world cup last year again and again right? Club football is important too bro. Peace man and thanks for ur opinion anyway π
No tournament can be compared to world cup, let's face d truth,it is easier to win d CL than to win the league cup. with at most 8matches u can win the World cup but it is played only once in 4 years. the level of preparation,rigors of qualification and amount of prestige involved cannot be compared to another. in as much as Mbappe won d world cup and playing so well in d tournament, what is the difference between what Pele did at his age n eat Mbappe just did. individually,no player I repeat no player was close to Messi's level last season, but as far as world cup is concerened,it should be either Griezman or Mbappe
RealMd13
10
Ballon DOR for CR7 well Deserves π₯π₯π₯π₯ Suuuuuiiiiiiiiiiii β«οΈβͺοΈβ«οΈβͺοΈ
shariffeyyulegunshot
8
it belongs to Ronaldo