China’s Ballon d’Or voter puts Messi first as Mbappe ranked fifth

Lu Ming, the editor-in-chief of Titan Sports and the only Chinese representative on the Ballon d’Or voting panel, ranked Lionel Messi as his leading candidate for the award.

The Argentine was placed ahead of France forward Ousmane Dembele and Spain midfielder Rodri in Lu’s selection. England captain Harry Kane was fourth, while Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe completed the top five.

Lu’s choices were reported by French outlet Foot Mercato. He explained that Messi’s position at the top of his list was based on the player’s contribution to Argentina’s World Cup campaign.

Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists during the tournament, while also playing a decisive role in guiding Argentina to the final.

Dembele was credited for combining outstanding individual performances with success in winning collective honours. Rodri, meanwhile, benefited from the importance of his role with the Spain national team.

Mbappe faces criticism in China

The decision to place Messi first comes as Mbappe faces growing criticism in China following the spread of a video on social media.

The footage appeared to show the Real Madrid striker reacting to satirical clips portraying him as a dictator, with a reference to Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Mbappe later issued a public apology, but the incident has continued to affect his commercial relationships in China. Several Chinese brands have ended their partnerships with him, while domestic media outlets have continued to criticise his actions.

Lu’s explanation for ranking Mbappe fifth was based on sporting considerations rather than the controversy. He pointed to the absence of major trophies from the player’s record during the season under review, despite Mbappe’s notable individual statistics.

The Ballon d’Or voting deadline passed on 28 September, before the current dispute between Mbappe and China began.

The source also states that Mbappe finished second in this year’s Ballon d’Or race, behind winner Harry Kane. That result is separate from Lu’s personal ranking, in which Messi led the list, followed by Dembele, Rodri, Kane and Mbappe.

Lu’s ballot therefore placed particular emphasis on Messi’s international impact, while also recognising Dembele’s combination of personal form and team success and Rodri’s influence for Spain. Kane was ranked above Mbappe by the Chinese voter, despite the latter’s strong individual numbers.

The voting panel’s assessment has drawn attention because of the contrast between Mbappe’s position in Lu’s selection and the criticism surrounding the forward in China. However, the reasons given for the fifth-place ranking focused on the lack of major honours during the relevant season rather than the video or its aftermath.