Ballon d'Or: Mbappé rules out chances after poor season
The Paris Saint-Germain star has explained why he does not think he is a realistic Ballon d'Or contender in 2019 against Messi and Van Dijk.
Kylian Mbappé believes Paris Saint-Germain's failures last season have ruled out his possibilty of dethroning Luka Modric by lifting the 2019 Ballon d'Or.
The France star scored 39 club goals in all competitions, but the Ligue 1 champions mounted a largely underwhelming first campaign under head coach Thomas Tuchel.
PSG dramatically crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 and failed to defend their Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue crowns.
Mbappé finished fourth in the Ballon d'Or voting in 2018 but does not expect to rival the likes of Barcelona captain Lionel Messi and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk this time around.
"This year? You have to be realistic, I do not deserve it," Mbappe told Ouest-France.
"There are players who have done more. With PSG, we did not win all the national titles. We disappointed in the Champions League. Sure, on an individual level, I did win a lot of trophies, but football is not played alone.
"I still have time to win it – I'm in no hurry, it's not something that haunts me."
Mbappé and PSG face Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.
The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced in Paris on December 2.