Dugarry criticises Mbappé for Ballon d’Or aspirations
Christophe Dugarry, a former French international and member of the 1998 World Cup-winning team, has publicly lambasted Kylian Mbappé for his overt ambitions to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, describing such behaviour as “childish and pathetic,” reports BritPanorama.
On the RMC podcast Rothen s’enflamme, Dugarry was unequivocal in his criticism, stating, “To publicly ask for an individual award like that, I find it CHILDISH and PATHETIC,” emphasising that such self-promotion is unbefitting of a national team captain.
Mbappé, now 27 and playing for Real Madrid, had expressed his desire for the prestigious award in a pre-match press conference on Monday, igniting Dugarry’s ire, who believes this pursuit đi against the responsibilities expected of a leader.
In the same session, Mbappé stated, “I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award.” He further revealed, “I made history this summer in the most prestigious competition, but there is still a long way to go for me,” and indicated a strong belief in his own potential, declaring, “I always consider myself the best player in the world.”
Mbappé’s case for the Ballon d’Or is fortified by his impressive form; last season, he scored 42 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid and was the top scorer in La Liga with 25 goals. Additionally, his performance in the Champions League, netting 15 goals in 11 appearances, earned him the tournament’s Golden Boot.
This summer was particularly noteworthy for Mbappé, who finished as the top scorer in the World Cup with ten goals, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. When asked by France Football who he would vote for regarding the award, he replied bluntly, “For myself,” arguing that his achievements clearly support this choice.
However, Dugarry’s discontent extends beyond Mbappé as he critiques what he perceives as a broader trend of individualism in football, lamenting, “Football is becoming more and more individualistic, and far too often it makes me sick.” He suggests that players should focus more on collective success rather than personal accolades.
Despite his critique, Dugarry acknowledged that he can understand Mbappé’s self-assessment as the world’s best player, even if he disagrees with the way it is presented.
As Mbappé prepares to face stiff competition for the Ballon d’Or from the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Rodri, and his own teammates Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, the official shortlist of nominees is set to be revealed today.
