Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has received strong backing from former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna to finally claim the Ballon d’Or, with the Frenchman tipped to dominate world football in the coming months.
Long considered the heir apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappe has yet to lift football’s most prestigious individual award.
His highest finish came in 2021 when he placed third, while last year he ended the rankings in seventh. Trophies, however, remain central to Ballon d’Or success, and reports suggest Mbappe must deliver on multiple fronts this season, including Champions League and La Liga glory with Real Madrid, as well as success at the World Cup with France this summer.
Even after starring as a teenager during France’s 2018 World Cup triumph over Argentina, Mbappe finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or due to a lack of domestic honours, underlining the importance of team silverware in the voting process.
Speaking to GOAL in association with Parimatch Online Casino, Sagna said, “He will win it. I think it is the right season for him to win it this year. I think the World Cup will be good with the France national team.
“I think he will have a good spell in the Champions League with Real Madrid. On a personal level, he is already ahead because he is doing well and standing in the first position. Unless he has a terrible World Cup, which I doubt, I think he will win the Ballon d’Or this season.”
Mbappe faces stiff competition from Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, and Harry Kane, among others, but Sagna insists the 27-year-old’s current form and influence make him the frontrunner.
