Steven Nzonzi, who was part of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning squad, left no doubt about his pick for this year’s award.
“I think he is the best in the world at present,” Nzonzi told AS. “The next Ballon d’Or should be his.”
He pushed back against the argument that trophies should decide the vote.
“There are players who win titles, but I think that none in the world is at their level as a footballer,” he said.
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‘Still a long way to go’
Even so, Nzonzi stopped short of placing Mbappe alongside the two players who have defined the last two decades.
“He is on the way, but he has not reached that status yet,” he said of Mbappe. “They are two genuine legends.”
A fuller version of the exchange carries Nzonzi adding that Messi and Ronaldo have “won everything individually and collectively and Mbappe still has a long way to go to prove things.”
Rodri on top of midfield
“I think Rodri is the best in his position right now,” Nzonzi said of the Manchester City midfielder.
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Wings, midfield and a new France boss
On the flanks, Nzonzi named Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal as “the best two wingers in the world.”
He also singled out Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, calling him a top-class player whose development has been slowed by injuries, and credited the new France head coach Zinédine Zidane with helping Mbappe rediscover his best form on international duty.
Zidane took over the France job on 1 September after Didier Deschamps’s 14-year tenure ended following the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be presented at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October, the first time London has hosted the ceremony. Ousmane Dembélé is the defending men’s winner.
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