Kylian Mbappe has made a surprising statement, saying that Lionel Messi deserved to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.
Mbappe finished 3rd on the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings, behind Erling Haaland and eventual winner Messi.
Kylian Mbappe believes that Lionel Messi deserves to win the award over him and Haaland, having won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 24-year-old was a teammate of the football great for about 2 seasons, and despite them not achieving giant strides, it appears Mbappe has massive respect for the Argentine.
Messi clinched his 8th Ballon d’Or award on Monday, October 30, 2023, and it generated different reactions across the world.
Some individuals feel that Lionel Messi didn’t do enough to win the award, as either Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe had a better season individually.
However, Mbappe has taken a different stance, and even termed his former teammate to be one of the greatest players in history, “if not the greatest”.
Lionel Messi deserved to win the Ballon d’Or award – Kylian Mbappe
Speaking to L’Equipe ahead of France’s Euro 2024 qualification encounter against Gibraltar and Greece, he aired his opinion on Lionel Messi winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.
Mbappe said: “Messi had to win the Ballon d’Or, he won the World Cup, he’s one of the greatest in history if not the greatest for me”.
The Frenchman also added that on the night of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, which France lost to Argentina on penalties, he knew he had lost the trophy and also the Ballon d’Or award.
“Haaland had a great season, me too, but next to winning a World Cup it doesn’t weigh much. On the night of 18th December, I knew that I had lost the World Cup…and Ballon d’Or too. Leo deserved it.”
Lionel Messi 2022/23 achievements for club and country
Lionel Messi was instrumental in Argentina winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with the 36-year-old scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists in 7 appearances.
The Argentine also won the Ligue 1 title and Trophée des Champions with Paris Saint Germain during the 2022/23 season.
The former Barcelona forward scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists in 41 appearances for PSG last term.
Messi currently plies his trade with Inter Miami, and he joined the MLS club on July 15, 2023, having left Paris Saint Germain at the end of his two-year deal with the French side.
Lionel Messi also assisted the American club to win the Leagues Cup in August 2023, scoring in both regulation time and during the shootout.
Inter Miami played out a 1-1 draw with Nashville in regulation time, before ultimately securing a 9-10 victory via penalties.
Messi is the second all-time scorer in football history, with 721 goals in 889 club appearances.
In terms of assists, the 36-year-old also leads the way with 344 assists in 889 club appearances.
Internationally, Lionel Messi has scored 106 goals and provided 56 assists in 179 appearances for Argentina.
