Benatia criticises Mbappé and praises Lamine Yamal: he was more elegant

Moroccan Mehdi Benatia, a former player of Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, has criticized Frenchman Kylian Mbappé's statements regarding the competition for the Ballon d'Or, while also expressing his admiration for what Spanish player Lamine Yamal, a star at Barcelona, said during his remarks about the award.

Benatia stated: "I did not like Mbappé's comments, while I liked Lamine's comments. I like Kylian a lot, and he knows that, but despite his young age, I found Lamine Yamal to be much more elegant."

The Moroccan defender stated that Mbappé winning the Ballon d'Or would not be surprising given his numbers and achievements, explaining: "If Kylian wins the Ballon d'Or, it won't be surprising to me; he finished the UEFA Champions League as the top scorer of the competition and became the all-time top scorer of the FIFA World Cup."

Benatia stated that Mbappé does not need to make such statements, especially given his good relationships with the other award nominees, saying: "Mbappé does not need to say such things, especially since he has good relationships with the other players nominated for the award; it is a bit strange."