Bayern Munich and France international Dayot Upamecano has become the latest figure to weigh in on who should win this year’s Ballon d’Or, comparing his Les Bleus teammate Kylian Mbappé with his club teammate Harry Kane.
As told to Gianluca DiMarzio (via @iMiaSanMia), Upamecano shared his thoughts when asked which of the two should win the coveted award. Positioned uniquely as a teammate to both world-class forwards, Upamecano refused to pick a definitive favorite, choosing instead to highlight the distinct
strengths each player brings to the pitch.
“We all know that Harry can play as a defender, a midfielder and a striker – he can play in every position. For me, it’s an honor to be able to play alongside him. Kylian is a very explosive player who is incredibly fast and knows how to score goals. They are different kinds of players, but they both have the desire to score in every game, and that is their strength. I wish them both the very best, and we’ll see what happens,” said the defender.
With the ceremony taking place in just two days, the winner will be revealed very soon. In the meantime, Upamecano’s analysis likely reflects what the voters are thinking, too.
Of the two, some may argue that Kane has had the stronger season in terms of performance, especially considering England’s run at the FIFA World Cup, but Mbappé remains one of the premier strikers in top-flight football.
Do you agree with Upamecano’s assessment of the two? Who should win the award on Monday? Let us know in the comments!
