4 reasons why Kylian Mbappe could win this year’s Ballon d’Or

#4 Messi and Ronaldo’s powers are dwindling

France v Argentina: Round of 16 - 2018 FIFA World Cup

It almost feels unfair to say, but after 10 years at the top, the two greatest players of their generation aren’t quite what they were. But that is the case. They are still a class above much of the rest of the world, but the gap is closing. Messi isn’t capable of producing the moments of brilliance at the same frequency he once did, while it has become clear Ronaldo has become more economical with his running in recent years.

Even at club level, the spotlight wasn’t on Ronaldo after Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph, it was on Gareth Bale after his sensational overhead kick. Quite simply, football needs a new star to emerge, and no one is better placed than Mbappe to be that man. There have been comparisons to Thierry Henry, and the 19-year-old can get to, and possibly surpass that level. He is better than Messi or Ronaldo were when they were his age, and now the pressure is on him to reach their level. But if his career up to this point is anything to go by, he can handle the pressure better than anyone.