French great criticises Mbappé over Ballon d’Or talk

“Me… me… me”: Jean-Pierre Papin has criticised Kylian Mbappé over the Ballon d’Or, with the announcement of the winner approaching. The 1991 recipient of the award took issue with how the France captain has spoken about the individual honour.

Papin nevertheless praised Mbappé’s exceptional ability and records. His criticism is that the forward appears to focus too much on himself: in Papin’s view, the Ballon d’Or is not decided by a player’s own assessment, but by multiple criteria set by the voters.

“I really admire Kylian, he holds records, but at some point everything becomes about me, me, me, and myself. The Ballon d’Or winner is chosen by others,” he said in remarks reported by Foot Mercato.

Papin also felt Mbappé had gone too far in discussing his own claim to the prize. “At one point he said that nobody but him deserved the Ballon d’Or. That was too much for me, far too much,” he added. Papin’s criticism is therefore not directed at the France captain’s ability, which he acknowledges, but at how Mbappé presents his chances to the voters.