A few months are left in 2023, which means the Ballon d’Or talk is occurring around football. There will be several rankings until the award is handed out, and the latest to unveil his favorites for the honor is Kevin De Bruyne.
When asked by Sky Sports News to choose between three players, the Manchester City star put together his top three for the award.
In the No. 1 spot was his teammate Erling Haaland. Then, in second place, the Belgian international put Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. Finally, in third place, he put Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen this year with him,” De Bruyne said. “I have no idea. You know, I also think it’s harder for him to win it in PSG. There’s rumours he goes to [Real] Madrid. Then maybe I’ll put him first or something.”
Kevin De Bruyne on who he thinks will win the Ballon d’Or first between Mbappé, Haaland, Vini Jr and why he put Mbappé third in his rankings:
“Because I don’t know what’s going to happen this year with him. I have no idea. You know, I also think it’s harder for him to win it in… pic.twitter.com/AAGamv5tG0
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) August 25, 2023
The lack of a significant trophy might be against Mbappé, although Vinicius didn’t lift the 2022 FIFA World Cup or 2023 UEFA Champions League. Mbappé was close to winning back-to-back World Cups and even scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina.
Nonetheless, the French national team fell in penalty kicks. Still, had the 24-year-old won that game, the PSG star would likely be the undisputed Ballon d’Or candidate. Mbappé will have three chances to win awards for next year with the Champions League, UEFA Euro 2024, and the Olympics, which will be in Paris.
