Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe says it is natural for people to consider him a potential Ballon d’Or winner this year after his World Cup exploits. The France captain scored 10 goals at the tournament this summer to win the Golden Boot, with his country finishing fourth. He has netted 22 in the competition, making him the World Cup’s all-time top scorer.
Mbappe, 27, has not yet won the prestigious trophy given to the world’s best player. On Tuesday, the record 15-time European champions host Inter Milan in the Champions League in the first match of the league phase. During Mbappe’s first two years at Madrid, the team has appeared unbalanced, with many star names, including the Frenchman and Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, widely considered not to be contributing enough to the team effort – in contrast to Ousmane Dembele at Paris Saint-Germain and Raphinha at Barcelona.
Mbappe said he would accept lower numbers if it led to trophies, but noted they were not mutually exclusive. Despite his history with the Italian side, whom he steered to the treble that year, the coach said that only mattered before and after, but not during the match. I’m sure Real Madrid will have a great season.” Mourinho wants his Madrid players to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday in La Liga.
I could tell you I want to play well, but I don’t want to play well like we did against Betis and lose,” added Mourinho.
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