Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé extended his contract with the capital club to make history at the team and individual levels. The 23-year-old was recently one of the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or.
In an interview with France Football, Mbappé spoke about wanting to win the prestigious award during his stint with PSG, which the forward thought about when extending his contract.
“Yes, of course,” Mbappé said. “Real is a machine for Ballons d’Or, it must be recognized. There is a real know-how. But the most important thing is the ground.
“It’s not your club that will get your Ballon d’Or, but it’s you first. And I remain convinced that I will be able to win it one day in Paris.”
Mbappé not only wants to bring the capital club’s first UEFA Champions League title but also would like to use his performance to elevate his status. Despite wanting to win the Ballon d’Or, the France international stated that the two parties didn’t discuss the award during contract extension talks.
“To be honest, no,” Mbappé said. “The only time we talk about it is to talk about the bonuses linked to a victory. Of course, I negotiated one, as with all players the club thinks has a chance of getting one.
“We add a carrot. But, frankly, if one day I won the Ballon d’Or, my bonus, that would be the last thing on my mind.”
The PSG forward has yet to make his debut in the 2022-23 season, but it appears Mbappé will begin his campaign to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or starting on Saturday when the French giants welcome Montpellier Hérault SC to the Parc des Princes.
