Despite stellar performances and a prolific goal-scoring record that made him a top contender for the Ballon d’Or, Kylian Mbappe ultimately missed out on the prestigious award due to pre-ceremony remarks asserting his own superiority. This explosive claim was made by French football legend and 1991 Ballon d’Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin.
At the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony held last Monday in London, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane clinched the men’s best player award. Real Madrid’s Mbappe finished second, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal took third place.
In an interview with France Football prior to the announcement, Mbappe stated, “No one was better than me last season.” Papin argued that this self-promotion and public declaration of his own supremacy left a negative impression on the judges and voters.
Papin noted that given Mbappe’s exceptional talent and high-profile club status, such aggressive self-marketing was entirely unneeded, emphasizing, “You don’t decide who wins the Ballon d’Or yourself; others make that decision.”
While drawing parallels between Mbappe’s lethal finishing efficiency and Cristiano Ronaldo, Papin believes that Mbappe’s overly self-centered demeanor off the pitch overshadows his contributions to his teammates.
Although the vote count between Kane and the runner-up Mbappe was razor-thin, Papin remains optimistic that at 27 years old, the French forward still has ample time and opportunity to claim the award in the future.
