When Cristiano Ronaldo Predicted Kylian Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or Destiny, Video

• Cristiano Ronaldo believed Kylian Mbappe has what it takes to win the coveted Ballon d'Or prize
• Mbappe is among the outliers to win this year's prize, with Messi and Haaland in the lead
• The highest Kylian has finished in his quest for Ballon d'Or success is fourth back in 2018

Paris Saint-Germain talisman Kylian Mbappe has been tagged as the heir-apparent to the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi throne.

For over a decade, the football world has been defined by the rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, who together boast an astounding 12 Ballon d'Or titles, emblematic of their unparalleled influence in the sport.

While the 24-year-old still has a considerable journey ahead to match the legendary duo's lofty achievements, it's evident why Mbappe has earned the title of their successor, given his remarkable accomplishments at such a young age.

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From his emergence as a teenage sensation with AS Monaco to becoming PSG's all-time leading scorer and securing a World Cup trophy, Mbappe's trajectory is nothing short of exceptional, per Britannica.

It's merely a matter of time before this ambitious and lightning-fast footballer from Paris makes the world his oyster and follows in the footsteps of his idol, Ronaldo, and his perpetual rival, Lionel Messi.

To underscore this notion, an old video has resurfaced, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo himself praising Mbappe's Ballon d'Or potential as he collected his fifth award.

"For Mbappe, I think he has a huge potential and huge talent. And everything is in his head, and its the same for Neymar," the now Al-Nassr captain said at the 2017 Awards Ceremony.

"They [Mbappe and Neyma] can be the next Ballon d'Or."

Mbappe backs himself to win 2023 Ballon d'Or

In a related publication, Sports Brief reported that Mbappe firmly believes in his ability to secure his inaugural Ballon d'Or triumph after experiencing another remarkable year with both his club and national team.

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Although Mbappe could not secure a second World Cup title in 2022, and PSG couldn't position themselves for Champions League glory, his exceptional goal-scoring abilities led Les Parisiens to victory in Ligue 1.

Updated Ballon d'Or rankings

There is no denying that the FIFA World Cup and the Champions League will play a crucial role in determining who will win the most lucrative individual award in football.

It is set to be a two-horse race between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland for the 2023 award. Sports Brief takes a look at how the voting could go in October.