Ever since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stopped dominating the trophy, the race for the Ballon d’Or has become more exciting again. This year, however, it has taken a particularly strange turn. Two stars in particular have kicked off the race – and Lothar Matthäus has a clear opinion on the matter.
There are certain stock phrases that football fans hear time and again when their stars are asked about their own performances. People often say they want to ‘let their performances speak for themselves’. And, after all, it’s ‘up to others’ to assess those performances. Fine phrases. Modest phrases. But above all: phrases that have clearly gone a little out of fashion. At least in the current race for the Ballon d’Or.
Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, in particular, are displaying their ambitions quite openly. The Spaniard recently stated on Movistar Plus that the Ballon d’Or must go to the best player – “not to the one who scores 80 goals”. It didn’t take long to work out who this dig might be aimed at. After all, Harry Kane scored an almost absurd number of goals last season. That’s exactly how Yamal’s comments were interpreted in Munich.
Matthäus is puzzled by the “campaigning”
“Of course, there has to be a campaign,” said sporting director Max Eberl last week, adding tellingly: “The best players are those who don’t need a campaign.” Someone who knows full well what it’s like to win awards sees it in much the same way.
Lothar Matthäus is watching the whole affair with a certain amount of astonishment. “The campaign is coming from just two players: Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.” “I haven’t heard anything from Kane, and Michael Olise doesn’t say much anyway.” Matthäus also explicitly rules out another prominent candidate: “Rodri is clever enough; he’s already won the Ballon d’Or. Everything’s quiet on that front too.”
Mbappé goes on the offensive
Calm, however, isn’t necessarily Mbappé’s favourite trait these days. In any case, the Frenchman leaves little doubt that he considers himself a rather suitable winner. Rightly so?
“But there’s something I find lacking with Mbappé: he hasn’t won a single title in the last twelve months,” says Matthäus. “Lamine Yamal has won two titles, but it wasn’t his standout season. Especially not at Barcelona.” That is precisely what makes this Ballon d’Or campaign so curious. The sporting arguments have long been on the table. Goals, titles, individual performances, displays at the World Cup – the 100 journalists with voting rights can form a fairly comprehensive picture.
Nevertheless, the hype is building as if, in a few weeks’ time, it were not the Ballon d’Or but a political office that were being awarded. And Mbappé is certainly dominating the campaign. His most notable appearance to date was the interview with RFI.
Striking timing
Mbappé spoke of his African heritage and his family roots. He then expressed his gratitude for the support and stated that he wished to dedicate the Ballon d’Or to Africa. As the son of a Cameroonian father and a French mother with Algerian roots, this sense of connection is understandable. The timing, however, is suspicious. Anyone who refuses to see this as part of an election campaign would probably also mistake election posters for particularly elaborately designed street lamps.
Consequently, some reactions on social media have been scathing. There, Mbappé is accused of now rather conveniently showcasing his African roots. Whether this accusation is fair is hard to prove. That the move appears at the very least ill-timed at this stage of the Ballon d’Or race, however, is clear.
Kane lets others do the talking
Kane is quite different. The 33-year-old continues to play the gentleman and refrains from issuing challenges. Instead, he falls back on those old footballing clichés, which seem almost refreshingly antiquated in this campaign. “I don’t really like talking about myself. I’d rather let my football speak for me – my actions on the pitch,” said the Englishman. Which, of course, doesn’t mean that nobody around Kane is campaigning on his behalf. Bayern Munich certainly are.
With remarkable regularity, the club’s own media channels are sharing videos, statistics and articles with the footballing public, all intended to explain why Kane deserves the award. Even Rio Ferdinand was given the chance to speak into the microphone at the record champions and praise his compatriot – even though the English legend otherwise has little connection with FC Bayern. That’s all part of the game too. There’s just one difference: Kane himself has so far kept out of it. And that’s precisely why Matthäus, of all people, has now decided to take matters into his own hands on his behalf.
“That’s why I’m going to do a bit of campaigning for Harry Kane now,” announces the 1990 World Cup winner. And then he gets straight to it: “He’s got a lot to show for himself: titles, strong performances, plenty of goals, great entertainment value and, above all, a clean public image.” That finally makes it clear what this is all about. It’s no longer just about goals, dribbles and titles. It’s also about who can present their case most effectively. Kane clearly continues to let others speak on his behalf. And Mbappé? He, at least, has long since proved that he not only knows where the goal is – but also where the voters are.