Rothen sends harsh message to Mbappé over his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or

Former Paris Saint-Germain star Jérôme Rothen, now an analyst for RMC, has sharply criticized compatriot Kylian Mbappé over his recent comments in which he stated that he sees himself deserving of the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Rothen said on the show "Rothen s’enflamme": "I assure you, Kylian, no one thinks you were the best player in the world last season. No one, not a single person," pointing out that scoring goals while wearing a Real Madrid shirt is not enough to secure the award.

Ruthen added, criticizing Mbappé's approach to the Ballon d'Or race: "Just because you scored goals with Real Madrid, is that enough? Do you want me to take you back three or four months, when he was being booed at the Santiago Bernabéu?"

Ruthen believes that winning titles should be a fundamental factor when evaluating candidates, stating that a player who does not win any title during the year should remain silent and continue working, in a direct reference to Kylian Mbappé. He also criticized the timing of his statements, considering that talking about the Ballon d'Or weeks before its announcement is not a coincidence, and that it is part of a calculated media campaign.

Kylian Mbappé has recently announced that he will vote for himself in the Ballon d'Or race, expressing confidence in his deservingness of the award. This declaration has opened the door to a wave of debate in France regarding his statements and ambition to win his first Ballon d'Or in his career.