Kylian Mbappe Shares Thoughts on Lionel Messi’s Victory in the 2023 Ballon d’Or

Kylian Mbappe, captain of the French Men’s national team, has offered his first reactions to Lionel Messi’s triumph at the 2023 Ballon d’Or award ceremony.

Expressing his views on Messi’s deserving win, Mbappe acknowledged Messi’s pivotal role in leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. The Paris Saint-Germain player, securing the third position himself, firmly believes that Messi, his former teammate in the Ligue 1 club, is a rightful recipient of the prestigious award.

“Messi had to win the Ballon d’Or; he clinched the World Cup, cementing his status as one of the greatest in history, if not the greatest for me. While Haaland and I had notable seasons, the weight of winning the World Cup is unparalleled. Leo truly deserved it.”

Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or makes him the first player in football history to achieve such a remarkable feat, closely followed by his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has secured the award five times. Messi’s outstanding performance includes 28 goals and 23 assists across 48 games in the calendar year.

Despite the anticipation among football fans, Manchester City’s forward, Erling Haaland, who played a pivotal role in the Cityzens’ treble victory in the 2022/23 season, settled for second place. The 23-year-old, breaking numerous records in his debut season with City, delivered an impressive performance with 56 goals and nine assists in 57 games.