Ballon d’Or 2018: France coach, Deschamps names player to win award

France manager, Didier Deschamps has backed Paris Saint-Germain, forward, Kylian Mbappe to win this year’s Ballon d’ Or.

Recall that Mbappe was shortlisted for the 2018 Ballon d’Or award last month.

The 19-year-old had expressed his desire to win the Ballon d’ Or ahead of Barcelona star, Lionel Messi and Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the award for ten years now.

The pair had won an incredible five awards each, with Ronaldo equaling Messi’s tally last year.

But, Deschamps believes Mbappe had done everything to win the Europe topflight individual prize, describing the France World Cup winner as an extraordinary player.

“Kylian is able to do extraordinary things. Look at his stats. He is efficient. Look at the goals he scored with his club and with us. He also made assists,” Bleacher Report quoted Deschamps as saying.

“He is a young player who is doing very well at the moment. And he doesn’t ask anything. He is an offensive leader for PSG. For us as well.

“But he doesn’t try to take more space than he does now. He does already, and it is natural. Obviously, he can still improve and that is wonderful. But he is already very effective.”

The 2018 Ballon d’ Or award will take place on 3rd December, 2018.