Mbappe Backs Messi to Win Ballon d'Or

Kylian Mbappe has backed Lionel Messi to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or award.

The PSG forward argued that the Argentine has been the best player of the year, with Messi once again a strong favourite to claim the honour next month.

The winger netted an astonishing 51 goals in all competitions for his club in the 2018-19 campaign, helping Barcelona secure another La Liga title.

Messi is a five-time winner of the prize, clinching it in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and most recently in 2015.

Only Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the award as many times, with Real Madrid’s Luka Modric ending the pair’s dominance with his first Ballon d’Or last year.

But Mbappe is confident that Messi’s remarkable calendar year will see the 32-year-old lift the prize once again.

When asked who he thinks will win the award by German outlet Der Spiegel, Mbappe replied: “Messi. In individual terms, he was the best this year.”