Kylian Mbappe on deserving to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or - 'I think I correspond to these criteria'
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Updated 20/06/2023 at 08:51 GMT+1
October 30 is the date etched into the minds of the world's top footballers as the moment when they could become the winner of the coveted Ballon d'Or. Kylian Mbappe has had a stunning campaign for Paris Saint-Germain and France, scoring 54 goals to become the top French scorer in a single club and international season. And he thinks it puts him in the conversation for the award.
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Kylian Mbappe says he feels he is deserving of winning the Ballon d'Or, following a stunning season which has seen the forward set a new goalscoring record.
Mbappe's 54 goals - his most recent coming in Monday's 1-0 UEFA 2024 Qualifying win against Greece - has seen him surpass Just Fontaine as the top French scorer in a single domestic and international season.
Mbappe was asked after his match-winning performance whether he feels he is in the conversation for the Ballon d'Or, to be awarded on October 30, given how the parameters of the award have changed to be more focussed around the "individual performance and the decisive and impressive character of the contenders.”
Speaking to TF1, Mbappe said: "It's always difficult to talk about an individual trophy, because you have to put yourself forward on your own and that's something that doesn't necessarily pass in the eyes of the general public.
"The new criteria, it's about burning eyes, it's someone who has had an impact... I think I correspond to these criteria, so I would say…yes. But we'll see."
France, following their win over the previously undefeated Greeks at the Stade de France, extended their lead at the top of Euro qualifying Group B to six points, and Les Bleus now have four wins from four.
Boss Didier Deschamps saluted how his team have rebounded from their heartbreaking World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
“We win games, and we keep winning them," he told TF1.
"Although we could have put the game to bed, because we never know what could have happened in the dying minutes.
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France's forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates
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"The season was very long for them [the players]. They were craving for holidays, but we did what needed to be done to win this game.
"I’m very happy with what the players showed in this difficult period.
"There was less experience than six months ago [for the World Cup], but there is quality. I’m very proud of what they did."
Among Mbappe's fellow contenders for the Ballon d'Or will be Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Vinicius Junior.
Having won the UEFA Nations League to go with Manchester City's treble, Spain's Rodri is another who some have identified as a worthy candidate.
Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or, while Alexia Putellas took the Ballon d'Or Feminin.
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