LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICEOF NAIJA) Achraf Hakimi believes that Kylian Mbappe “deserves” to claim the 2023 Ballon d’Or, surpassing Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
Hakimi, a PSG teammate of Mbappe, expressed his support for the French star to secure football’s most prestigious individual accolade for the first time.
This endorsement comes after Mbappe’s impressive start to the season, during which he contributed significantly to PSG’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Speaking to beIN Sports France, Hakimi stated, “Considering what he achieved in the past year, I believe he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. He is an exceptional player, and I hope he can secure it this year.”
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Currently, Messi is considered the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, aiming for his eighth win after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup.
Haaland is another strong contender, having scored 56 goals in his debut season with Manchester City, helping them achieve a treble.
Although France narrowly missed out on the World Cup title in 2023, with Argentina emerging victorious, Mbappe stood out as the tournament’s top scorer.
Additionally, he netted an impressive 41 goals for PSG during the 2022-23 season.
Luis Enrique’s PSG will return to action in Ligue 1 against Marseille on the upcoming Sunday.
