For the past ten years, only Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo have won FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award. The way FIFA has handled the award has been criticised in the past, mostly by Messi and Ronaldo supporters if their man does not win.

This year, though, although Messi and Ronaldo are still two of the favourites to claim the award, there is a bigger chance that the pair’s domination of the award could end. One of the candidates to win the award is French wonderkid Kylian Mbappe.

Potentially the next big football superstar

At just 19-years-old Mbappe, is already a world champion, having helped France to win the World Cup in Russia. The youngster played a major part in the triumph and announced himself on the international stage.

Mbappe had already been a sensation in the club, having produced some sparkling displays from Monaco and PSG in the past two seasons. In fact, Mbappe has now won two Ligue One titles and a World Cup in the last two years, quite some collection for a player not even out of his teens.

It is already clear that Mbappe has the potential to become the next big football superstar. It will be hard to reach Messi and Ronaldo level, but if any youngster can do it then it is Mbappe.

Mbappe recently scored four times in a 5-0 win over Lyon in Ligue One. The striker’s teammate Brazilian star Neymar called Mbappe ‘A Phenomenon’.

Mbappe won the best young player in Russia

The forward won the best young player award at Russia 2018. Some of his displays were simply in a different league to those of his contemporaries at the World Cup. It was difficult to remember at times that Mbappe is just 19.

Mbappe plays the game as if he is a far more experienced player. It is scary to think just how much potential he has to go on and improve in the near future.

May not be this year

Mbappe is one of the nominees to win the Ballon d’Or this year and has to be considered as a realistic contender. However, time is on the youngster’s side. Unlike Messi or Ronaldo, Mbappe is a world champion.

Neither of the games current greats of managed that accolade in the world game, although Ronaldo did win the Euro 2016 with his country. Messi has also lost a number of finals in the international game.

If Mbappe does not claim the Ballon d’Or award this year, then if he continues in a similar vein he looks like a certainty to win the award at some point in his career. The striker could play for another decade and a half at the top level, which gives him plenty of opportunities to win the individual award.

Mbappe seems to be a level-headed young man and after his four-goal salvo against Lyon preferred to talk about his teammate’s efforts. That attitude is likely to keep the 19-year-old at the top of the game for a long time to come.

Is Kylian Mbappe a realistic contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or?