NEVER one to shy away from the spotlight, Kylian Mbappe has boldly backed himself for this year’s Balon D’or.
The forward was talking after yesterday’s 1-0 victory over Greece in France‘s European Championship qualifier.
GettyMbappe scored from the spot to break Just Fontaine’s record yesterday[/caption]
Mbappe, 24, scored a penalty after former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos drew blood from Antoine Griezmann by kicking him in the head.
The goal saw Mbappe break Just Fontaine’s record for the most goals scored in a single season by a French forward for club and country.
It was Mbappe’s 54th goal this season, moving him ahead of Fontaine’s record of 53.
And speaking after the game to French TV, Mbappe was asked if he had done enough this season to win football‘s most prestigious individual gong.
He said: “The Ballon d’Or? It’s always difficult to talk about an individual trophy, because you have to put yourself forward.
“It’s something that doesn’t necessarily go down well with the general public.
“Do I deserve the Ballon d’Or? With the new criteria, what counts? Catching the eye, scoring goals and making an impact?
“I think I fit those criteria. I’d say yes, but it’s the people who vote and I’m always optimistic.”
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The current favourites for the Balon D’or are Mbappe’s former PSG team-mate Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Messi, 35, is the current favourite to win his eighth Balon D’or after leading Argentina to their first World Cup since 1986.
But his move to MLS side Inter Miami could harm his chances given the award will be handed out next season in October.
Haaland, 22, is the other front-runner for the award.
Haaland scored 58 goals this season for club and country as he helped City to a historic treble – four more than Mbappe’s 54.
Mbappe won the French League title with PSG but it was a disappointing season for the team overall, with the Parisians crashing out in the round of 16 in both the Champions League and the Coupe De France.
It could have been so different for Mbappe had France won the World Cup after he scored a hat-trick in the final as part of a titanic individual struggle with Messi.
But it was only enough to force penalties in a game that finished 3-3 after extra time.
Messi’s Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2 and Mbappe alluded to the fact that history is written by the victors.
He said later in the interview: “I would have swapped my three goals in the final for an own goal and a victory.
“We’re competitors, history is for the people who tell it.
“We want to write it.
“It was difficult to go past the cup without lifting it.”