Cristiano Ronaldo backs France star Kylian Mbappe to win Ballon d'Or at 'best club ever' Real Madrid
Published 10/09/2024 at 20:53 GMT+1
Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Kylian Mbappe to win a Ballon d'Or at Real Madrid, following the striker's move to the club this summer. Mbappe joined Carlo Ancelotti's La Liga and Champions League title-holders after cementing his status as one of the best players in world football during a seven-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored 256 goals in 308 matches.
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Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Kylian Mbappe to flourish after his summer transfer to La Liga champions Real Madrid, and expects the forward to win a Ballon d'Or at the "best club ever".
Ronaldo - himself a five-time Ballon d'Or winner - scored 450 goals in 438 matches at the Bernabeu, and Kylian Mbappe will be looking for comparable figures after earning himself the status as one of world football's best players in a seven-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain.
And Ronaldo did not hold back on his praise for both the striker and his new club as he spoke on his own YouTube channel with TNT Sports' football expert Rio Ferdinand, labelling the Spanish giants as "the best club ever, in the history of football".
Mbappe scored 256 goals in 308 matches for PSG, winning six Ligue 1 titles having also won one with Monaco in 2016/17. A UEFA Champions League title, however, has been elusive for the France international, an accolade which his new club Madrid won for a record 15th time in June.
A European title could be the missing piece of Mbappe's puzzle as he looks to achieve a maiden Ballon d'Or, and Ronaldo feels Madrid are set up in a way which will allow the striker to achieve the individual honour.
"I think he will do well because of the structure of the club... it's nice, it's good, it's solid," Ronaldo said.
"They have a great coach and the president who has been there for many many years. I think it won't be a big problem because of his talent. He has shown what he is capable of doing. In my opinion, he can be the next Golden Ball [Ballon d'Or] winner."
Ronaldo also earmarked some of the world's best emerging talent who could compete with Mbappe for future Ballon d'Or titles.
He added: "Him, [Erling] Haaland, [Jude] Bellingham, Lamine [Yamal]. I think this new generation, they have a lot of potential."
Ancelotti's side extended their impressive Champions League record to a 15th triumph, and their second in three years as they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium in June.
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Ronaldo described the "aura" around the club, and what exactly makes them so prolific in the European competition.
He explained: "Madrid is the kind of team they don't rush under pressure. People say they're lucky in the Champions [League]. No they are not lucky. They're prepared for this kind of moment. The Bernabeu has that different aura.
"Now, if you say that Madrid is going to be better or not, we don't know. Mbappe is there now, I think Madrid will keep strong, but I don't know if they will be better than last year. Only God knows."
Mbappe's first taste of Champions League action at the Bernabeu will come against Stuttgart on 17 September.
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