Paul Pogba is hoping one of his countrymen wins this year’s Ballon d’Or
Pogba was named on the 30-man shortlist for the award earlier this week after helping France to World Cup glory in Russia in the summer. Despite this, he’s stated that four of his international teammates are more deserving of the award than he is.
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Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Raphael Varane and N’Golo Kante also played starring roles in France’s World Cup triumph and the Manchester United midfielder has indicated that he’d be happy for any of them to be named the world’s best player ahead of him.
“Whether it’s Grizou [Griezmann], Kylian [Mbappe] or Raph [Varane], they deserve it much more than me,” Pogba said.
“I can’t designate one [to win it]. But I hope with all my heart that this is one of the three.
“One of the four also because there is NG [Kante]. That’s all I hope for anyway, because there are many who deserve it. I do not put myself in.”
Since Kaka won the award in 2007, the Ballon d’Or has been won by either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo every year since. There is, however, a strong feeling that a new name will break the duopoly this year. As well as the names listed by Pogba, Luka Modric is also expected to be one of the main contenders.
Modric played a key role in Real Madrid’s third successive Champions League success last season and the midfielder also helped Croatia to its first ever World Cup final. Recently named as The Best Fifa Men’s Player, many bookmakers see him as favourite to follow this up with the Ballon d’Or.
Pogba is currently back with his international teammates and is expected to play in their international friendly against Iceland on Thursday night.
