These players deserve Ballon d'Or more than me: Paul Pogba
The list of top 30 nominees for football's most prestigious prize, the Ballon d'Or, was revealed this week. Speculations have already started as to who deserves this honor. Where everyone wants to win, it comes as a surprise when a player prefers others despite being nominated himself. Paul Pogba, the French international, has named some of his team-mates who are more deserving than him.
Here are the players who are Pogba's favorites
Pogba named team-mates from the French squad, Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane, N'Golo Kante, and Kylian Mbappe as footballers deserving the Ballon d'Or, ahead of him. Pogba said, "That's all I hope for anyway because there are many who deserve it. I do not put myself in." Notably, no other Manchester United player has found his name in the top 30 list.
Kante and Griezmann: How did they perform last season?
Both Kante and Griezmann were phenomenal in their World Cup exploits and for their clubs. Griezmann scored 29 goals in 49 appearances for Atletico Madrid and was one of the most important players for France in the World Cup. Kante was also a pillar for France in the World Cup and operated Chelsea's mid-field in the Premier League.
Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe: What about them?
Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe were also irreplaceable parts of the French squad during the World Cup. Further, they also shone for their clubs. Varane won the Champions League with Real Madrid, and the trio of Mbappe-Neymar-Edison helped PSG win the Ligue 1. Mbappe had won the Golden Boy award last year and might retain it again this time around.
France have seven players in the shortlist of 30
France have seven players in the shortlist of 30 nominees released for the Ballon d'Or. Among members of the World Cup squad, Hugo Lloris is also in the list of nominees in addition to the aforementioned players. Karim Benzema, who was not selected for the World Cup, has been added despite scoring 12 times in 47 appearances for Real Madrid in 2017-18.
