Kylian Mbappe believes he cannot have done more to win this year’s Ballon d’Or following a stunning 2018 for the teenager.
With club Paris Saint-Germain the 19-year-old scooped the French treble, scoring 21 goals across the 2017-18 campaign.
But it was at the World Cup where Mbappe shone brightest, scoring four goals, including in the final against Croatia, as France won the tournament in Russia.
He subsequently won the Fifa Young Player Award, given to the best young player at the finals and is in line to win the Golden Boy prize – given to the best player aged under 21 in Europe – for a second straight year.
Five-time winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and Golden Ball winner from the World Cup Luka Modric are the main contenders for the prize, which will be presented at an award ceremony in Paris on December 3.
Mbappe told AFP: “If I’m going to win it, I do not know, at least I put all the ingredients on my side to win it.
“I did everything I could until the last day of the vote.
“I will have no regrets, all that will happen is a bonus, and then I can not vote instead of people!”
Seven of the 30 nominees for the prize this year come directly from the France team which won the World Cup in July.
Joining Mbappe is goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, defender Raphael Varane, midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante and forwards Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann.
And Mbappe feels it would be entirely justified if the top three is dominated by members of Didier Deschamps’ world champions.
“I think a Ballon d’Or is based on highlights in the year,” he added. “We are in a World Cup year so it’s sure that the World Cup will weigh in.
“After that, it’s still over a whole year, I’ve had a very good start to the season, so we’ll see what it’s going to be like.”
