France 1998 World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry has laid into Kylian Mbappe over remarks he made about the Ballon d’Or.
Real Madrid star Mbappe thinks this ‘might be a good year’ for him to win the award for the first time.
Talking up his chances ahead of Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan, the France captain – who broke the all-time World Cup goals record this summer – said: “I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award [the Ballon d’Or].
“There are many people that speak about me and the Ballon d’Or. Of course I’ve made history in the most important competition. Maybe it’s a good year for this, but people can vote according to what they think.
“I always think I’m the best [player in the world], but everyone has their own opinion.
“Maybe people think different ways. I don’t think it’s a discussion we need to have.
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“Of course this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or. But journalists vote.”
But Dugarry, who earned 55 caps for France and played in Les Bleus’ 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, isn’t a fan of Mbappe’s apparent confidence of getting his hands on football’s ultimate individual accolade.
“To publicly ask for an individual award like that, I find it childish and pathetic,” Dugarry said (via talkSPORT) in a scathing attack on the 2018 World Cup winner.
“There’s nothing great about asking for it, especially as captain of your national team.”
The closest to winning the Ballon d’Or Mbappe has come to date was in 2023, when he finished third behind Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi – who collected the prize for a record extending eighth time.
Last year’s award was won by Mbappe’s international teammate Ousmane Dembele, France’s record sixth Ballon d’Or recipient.
