KEY POINTS

  • PSG signed Kylian Mbappe at $182 million
  • The Frenchman extended his contract with PSG earlier this summer
  • He has netted 180 goals so far for PSG

Kylian Mbappe has claimed he is about to win the Ballon d'Or as he believes the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has ended.

Mbappe has established himself as one of the prolific strikers since his move to Pairs Saint-Germain (PSG) from AS Monaco in 2017. After Mbappe first moved to PSG on loan, the Ligue 1 side signed him permanently at $182 million and the French forward remains the second-most expensive player.

Mbappe has netted 180 goals and provided 88 assists in 223 appearances for PSG in all competitions, including nine goals in six games in the ongoing season.

Earlier this summer, Real Madrid were heavily linked with Mbappe, who eventually rejected a move to the Spanish capital and instead extended his contract with PSG.

Though Mbappe is already counted among the best in the world, the 23-year-old Frenchman is yet to receive a Ballon d'Or award. He is tipped to take over the baton from Messi and Ronaldo, who have dominated the world of soccer for over a decade. The two legends have 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them, with Messi winning a record seven trophies.

In a recent interview, Mbappe said Messi and Ronaldo have to stop as the new generation is set to take over from here on.

"I think I'm about to win the Ballon d'Or. I always say I dream about everything. I have no limits. So, of course, as you say, it's a new generation. And Ronaldo, Messi — you're gonna stop. We have to find someone else, someone new," Mbappe told New York Times.

While Messi has won the last two editions of the prestigious French award, the former Barcelona superstar is not even included in the 30-man shortlist for the 2022 ceremony. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has not won the Ballon d'Or since 2017.

Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi, who had a second-half penalty saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi, who had a second-half penalty saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois AFP / FRANCK FIFE

The first player to end Messi and Ronaldo's incredible streak of the Golden Ball award was Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who won it in 2018 after finishing runners-up in the FIFA World Cup with Croatia and winning the Champions League.

In 2020, when then-Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski was tipped to win the Ballon d'Or, the gala was canceled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is a strong candidate to win after he finished the 2021-22 campaign with 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 games. He played a key role in Los Blancos' successful La Liga and the Champions League campaigns.

Lionel Messi