With Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi likely to be the main protagonists to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or, Kylian Mbappe has claimed he deserves to win the illustrious award.
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Many expect the 24-year-old to lose out on this year's Golden Ball to either Haaland or Messi, both of whom accomplished miraculous feats this past season.
The Norwegian managed help Manchester City win the UEFA Champions League and a treble with his 52 strikes across all competitions, while the Argentine lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a triumphant showing in Qatar, and was named the best player of that tournament too.
Mbappe, however, scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, grabbed yet another Ligue 1 title, and earlier this week became the Frenchman who has scored the most goals for club and country in a single season with 54 strikes.
It is these accomplishments that have seemingly given the Bondy native the confidence to believe he is deserving of being named the best player in the world this year.
"The Ballon d'Or? It's always difficult to talk about an individual trophy, because you have to put yourself forward," he told TF1.
"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."
The Paris Saint-Germain attacker went on to explain what it was like narrowly losing out on retaining the world title with Les Bleus in Qatar.
"What can I take away from this season with the French national team? The World Cup, of course," he added.
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"It was special at that time of year. It was a defining moment for everyone. 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."
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