Former Wales winger Gareth Bale has backed Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe to clinch the prestigious Ballon d’Or next year, ahead of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
Bale’s endorsement comes after Brazilian forward Vinicius narrowly missed out on the 2023 award, which went to Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Bale expressed his belief in Mbappe’s potential to dominate global football.
When asked who he thought would secure the next Ballon d’Or, Bale responded confidently: “Kylian Mbappe.”
He elaborated: “It’s just unfortunate that at the moment it’s not quite going Mbappé’s way. But I think on his day, he’s the best player in the world, and it’s just a matter of time before he comes good.”
However, Bale’s praise for Mbappe did not extend to goal-scoring accolades in club competitions.
The former Real Madrid icon predicted Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski would finish as the top scorer in La Liga, while Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane would claim the same honor in the UEFA Champions League.