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Kylian Mbappe's former PSG teammate Angel Di Maria has explained why the new Real Madrid superstar will eventually become a Ballon d'Or winner. The France captain finished third on the podium last year, his best finish thus far.
Di Maria played with Mbappe at the Parc des Princes and knows all about PSG's all-time top scorer's talents. He delved into the 25-year-old's main attributes and how it makes him one of world football's most deadly attackers (via Madrid Xtra):
"Mbappe has extraordinary speed that can make the difference at any moment. Even when the game seems locked, he sees space and starts running and if you give him a good ball, he’s decisive. For me, it’s obvious that he’ll end up winning the Ballon d’Or."
Kylian Mbappe's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or may have increased following his long-awaited move to Real Madrid. He's joined the reigning European and La Liga champions.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner was in excellent form last season for PSG before sealing a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. He posted 44 goals and 10 assists in 48 games across competitions.
Mbappe is expected to be in the mix for the Ballon d'Or later this year, but it's likely to go to one of his new teammates. Vinicius Junior is the hot favorite, and Jude Bellingham is also a contender.
"Not a good captain" - Emmanuel Petit slammed Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe after France's Euro 2024 exit
Kylian Mbappe could not shine at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer as France stuttered to the semifinals before being eliminated. The 2018 world champions suffered a 2-1 loss to Spain to crash out of the competition.
Mbappe suffered a broken nose in Les Bleus' opening 1-0 victory against Austria. This plagued him, and he finished the tournament with just one goal and two assists in five games.
Emmanuel Petit wasn't listening to any excuses made over Mbappe's disappointing Euro 2024 campaign. He took aim at the Real Madrid superstar's leadership (via Get Football News Spain):
"For me, he’s not a good captain after the signals he sent out after taking office, almost forced. His statements to his teammates, for example, when he said that he wasn’t getting good balls, or that (Antoine) Griezmann wasn’t having a good Euro… Is it the captain’s role to point out his teammates’ mistakes?"
The France icon touched on Mbappe's broken nose and had little sympathy:
"And then, excuse me, all the fuss about the mask after he broke his nose. Who cares! He’s not the first player to play with a broken nose, he won’t be the last. He demanded a lot to have this armband, and for me he had no leadership either on or off the field. At no time did I see him harangue his teammates."
Mbappe admitted he didn't live up to expectations in Germany, saying that he 'wasn't good'. He'll look to put a lackluster European Championships showing behind him when he's officially unveiled as a new Real Madrid player on Tuesday (June 16).
