Kylian Mbappe reignites Ballon d’Or debate – ‘I thought it would go to…’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has once again sparked debate regarding the Ballon d’Or in a recent discussion with Le Parisien (h/t SPORT).

The Real Madrid forward shared his thoughts on the selection process for football’s most prestigious individual award, questioning the criteria used to determine the winner.

The uncertainty surrounding this year’s Ballon d’Or remains a major talking point, with no clear favourite emerging.

Mbappe highlighted the need for fairness in the selection process, suggesting that every player, including goalkeepers, should be given equal consideration for the accolade.

“Today, we don’t know who the Ballon d’Or leans towards, except that no one should be excluded, that all players should be rewarded, perhaps even a goalkeeper,” he began saying.

Vinicius deserved Ballon d’Or

The previous edition of the award stirred controversy when Rodri was named the winner, despite widespread expectations that the trophy would go to Vinicius Jr.

Many believed the Brazilian was the rightful recipient, given his exceptional performances for Real Madrid.

For Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

However, when it became clear that Rodri had been chosen, Real Madrid decided not to attend the gala, even though they secured several other prestigious titles, including the awards for best team and best coach.

The decision to award Rodri the Ballon d’Or instead of Vinicius left many in disbelief. If someone had predicted such an outcome months before the ceremony, few would have taken it seriously.

“Ballon d’Or, what’s a Ballon d’Or, is Rodri a Ballon d’Or for you? I thought the Ballon d’Or would go to Vini Jr. but in the end it went to Rodri.

“If I had told you three months ago, you would have said: What the hell are you talking about?” added the forward.

With no certainty over this year’s winner, the debate surrounding the Ballon d’Or is far from over.

The footballing world remains divided on whether the current selection criteria truly reward the most deserving player or if changes need to be made to ensure greater transparency and fairness in the voting process.