Mbappé’s Ballon d’Or pick sends fans into a spiral

Kylian Mbappé, captain of the French national team, addressed the media ahead of the Nations League third-place play-off, where the World Cup runners-up will face Germany.

The forward revealed he would vote for Ousmane Dembélé over Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d’Or and insisted that PSG’s Champions League triumph doesn’t affect him personally.

On the Ballon d’Or: “I would give the Ballon d’Or to Ousmane Dembélé. Would I vote for him? Yes. Do I really need to explain that? If we’re comparing Yamal and Dembélé, I’d choose Dembélé. My vote is clear.”

On long-term goals with the national team: “We have a long-term vision: the World Cup. We’re gaining confidence in attack, but we also need to build that same confidence in defence. A lot of players will be back soon—we’ve had many injuries. We need to keep working.”

More on the Ballon d’Or: “The situation changes very quickly, as recent winners have shown. Sometimes we don’t even talk about the players who end up winning it. A lot can happen between now and September, but today, we’re talking about Dembélé and Yamal—that’s why I answered the way I did.”

On PSG winning the Champions League: “I was in Morocco, watching the match at the Fairmont in Marrakech. Want all the details? My cousin and some friends were there, the TV was huge... But jokes aside, I was happy for them. They deserved it. They’ve faced so many challenges—I’ve lived them too. I’ve experienced every phase of the Champions League except for winning it. They were the best team in Europe. A 5-0? I don’t remember ever seeing that. It’s 100% deserved. They’ve become the team everyone wants to beat.”

On a “blank season”: “A blank season? Really? What’s a blank season? Do you even watch the games? We won two titles. That’s where language matters. Yes, we missed out on some major trophies, but this year has been enriching. PSG winning the Champions League without me doesn’t affect me negatively—it’s a positive thing. Every player faces challenges in their career. I just happen to be more in the spotlight, and that’s fine. I’ve always liked being in that position. It’s up to me to respond. I’ve turned things around many times in my career. I’ve been blamed for a lot, but I’ve managed to release that pressure. Now, it’s up to me to work.”