Kylian Mbappé names football legends and addresses Ballon d'Or voting

Kylian Mbappé has identified his footballing ‘Mount Rushmore,’ selecting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, and Zinedine Zidane as the greatest players of all time. The Real Madrid forward made these selections during an interview at the French national team’s training base.

Mbappé’s comments have also sparked debate regarding the Ballon d’Or voting process. During an interview with Radio France Internationale, Mbappé addressed the influence of African nations, which represent approximately 20% of the voting jury. He expressed gratitude for the support he has received from the continent, noting his Cameroonian and Algerian heritage, and stated his hope to dedicate a potential Ballon d’Or win to them.

Critics have debated whether his remarks constitute an indirect request for votes, given that he was born and trained in France and has played his professional career exclusively for European clubs. The Ballon d’Or is decided by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries, with scoring based on individual performance, collective achievements, and fair play.