Messi backs Haaland, Mbappe & Vini Jr to battle it out for his Ballon d'Or crown

Lionel Messi has revealed who he expects to battle for the Ballon d'Or in the coming years.

For the past 15 years, the Argentinian playmaker and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the award.

The Inter Miami player set a new record by winning his eighth award last night in Paris, extending his number of trophies over his Portuguese rival.

However, with Messi now aged 36 - it is expected that this will be his last award and it is now up to the next generation of superstars to take over.

Asked who he thinks could be the next to win the award, Messi told L'Equipe 'For a few years, we have seen players that can win it coming through.

'It could be hotly contested in the coming years with players like Haaland, Mbappé and Vinicíus Juinor.

'There are lots of young players that will fight for the Ballon d'Or. I also think that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young but who has already played very well with Barcelona and has become an important player [could compete].

'There will certainly be others who will fight for it as well with other players yet to appear. It will be a new era.'

Former team-mate Mbappe riled up the supporters of Stade Brest during Paris Saint-Germain's 3-2 win there on Sunday - and then doubled down on social media to defend his actions.

The French captain scored to put his side 2-0 up at Stade Francis-Le Ble, but Brest pegged them back to 2-2. Mbappe saw an 89th minute penalty saved, but was in the right place to dispatch the rebound and put PSG ahead with his 250th career club goal.

Mbappe, 24, was booked for a gesture to the crowd during his goal celebration, and was immediately substituted off in favour of Nordi Mukiele.

Mbappe taunted the Brest supporters, geeing them up in reaction to their own anger, and making hand gestures signalling the 3-2 scoreline in favour of PSG.

French sports journalist Bertrand Latour wrote on X: 'A captain of the French team should not do that.'