Kylian Mbappe has once again sparked controversy with his recent comments on the 2023 Ballon d’Or race. Mbappe has been in fine form for his club and country this season. The French star scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists for PSG and France this season. He also won Ligue 1 with PSG and was one of the best players in the World Cup last year.
As the 2022-23 season ended, the debate about the probable winner of this season’s Ballon d’Or heated up. Alongside Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe is also among the front runners for the award. Haaland, Messi, and Mbappe have all registered more than 60 goal contributions for their club and country this season.
Most goal contributions in 22/23:
64 — Kylian Mbappé 🇫🇷
63 — Lionel Messi 🇦🇷
62 — Erling Haaland 🇳🇴Leo Messi is Timeless 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/qm2m7au5Zj
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) June 16, 2023
While Haaland won the treble with City, Messi won the Ligue 1 with PSG and the World Cup with Argentina. He also won the World Cup Golden Ball and the FIFA The Best award. However, Kylian Mbappe has given his own opinion on the Ballon d’Or winner. Speaking to TF1, Mbappe said, “Chances to win the Ballon d’Or this season?
He further added, “It is difficult to talk about individual awards, but I think I met the criteria to be in the Ballon d’Or race. I will say yes, I can win it.” However, Mbappe’s comments haven’t gone down well with the fans. The Internet has been filled with hilarious comments from fans reacting to Mbappe’s statements.
Here are some Twitter reactions from fans:
😭😭 bro thinks he can get anywhere close to balon d’or
— Liam🐐8 (@LiamFcb_) June 20, 2023
He’s in the race but he isn’t winning it.
— Lord Rxn 🦀 (@Rxn_605) June 20, 2023
What’s he smoking 😭😭 he’s finishing 3rd max
— MSthepro (@TrustinFDJ) June 20, 2023
Is this guy drunk or som?
— Entanglement (@Ollican_) June 20, 2023
Lmao sit down Kylian.
— Aian Chaharia (@iAiaaann) June 20, 2023
Bro is stuck in january
— Pmm (@Pmm7979) June 20, 2023
As per the reports, Lionel Messi is in pole position to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or. The World Cup trophy has hugely increased the former PSG star’s odds of winning the award. However, Messi recently in an interview stated that he is no longer bothered with winning the Ballon d’Or, having won 7 of them previously.
Kylian Mbappe talks about his hat trick in the World Cup 2022 final
The entire soccer world was sitting with bated breath last year as Kylian Mbappe’s France took on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. Both Messi and Mbappe were the top performers in the competition, leading their teams to the final. However, as fate would have it, it was Messi‘s Argentina who triumphed over Mbappe and France that day.
Although Argentina’s victory doesn’t take anything away from Kylian Mbappe who put up a valiant effort against the Argentines. Despite having a quiet game, Mbappe burst into life in the latter stages of the game and scored a hat trick to keep France in the game. However, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez‘s heroics in the penalty shootout ended Argentina’s 36-year-long wait for the World Cup trophy.
Ever Mbappe’s former teammate Lionel Messi appreciated Mbappe’s stunning performance in the final. During an interview, Mbappe talked about his performance against Argentina in the final.
He said, “My hat trick in the WC final? At the time, I didn’t realize what I did. I would have exchanged that for an ugly goal for us to win 1-0. We are competitors, we wanted to write history, and it was difficult to pass the trophy without lifting it.“
Kylian Mbappé on his hat-trick in the final:
“At the time, I didn’t realize too much. I would have exchanged my hat-trick for an ugly goal for us to win 1-0. We are competitors, we wanted to write history, it was difficult to pass the trophy without lifting it. The whole World… pic.twitter.com/tsB1AXygfL
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 19, 2023
While he didn’t win the trophy he desired, Mbappe did get the World Cup Golden Boot award. He was the top-scorer of the tournament with 8 goals, one more than Messi. Mbappe also became the second player to ever score a hat trick in the World Cup final after Sir Geoffrey Hurst, who accomplished this feat in 1966 against West Germany.