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Ballon d'Or 2018: France heroes Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane and N'Golo Kante ‘deserve it much more than me’, says Paul Pogba

The Manchester United midfielder wants one of his France teammates to be recognised in Paris on December 3

Liam Twomey
Wednesday 10 October 2018 07:13 BST
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Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba wants a Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or this year, but does not think he has the strongest claim of Didier Deschamps’ World Cup winners.

Pogba has been named on the 30-man shortlist for the award along with Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane.

All five men played starring roles as France lifted the World Cup in Russia for the first time since 1998, but Pogba believes each of his countrymen are more valid contenders than he is.

“Whether it's Grizou [Griezmann], Kylian [Mbappe] or Raph' [Varane], they deserve it much more than me,” Pogba said.

“I cannot designate one [to win it]. But I hope with all my heart that this is one of the three.

Pogba enjoyed a glorious summer with France at the World Cup in Russia

“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.”

Mbappe enjoyed a scintillating World Cup, registering four goals in seven appearances and becoming the first teenager to score in the final of the competition since Pele in 1958, while international glory came at the end of a remarkable personal season for Varane, who was a regular presence in defence as Real Madrid claimed their fourth Champions League in five years.

Croatia and Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named The Best Fifa Men’s Player in September ahead of Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, and the 33-year-old is favoured by most bookmakers to become the first man not named Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to take home the Ballon d’Or since 2008.

Premier League players account for 11 of the 30 names on the list, and both Salah and Chelsea forward Eden Hazard are both ranked among the leading contenders for the top prize.

The winner of the 2018 Ballon d’Or will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on December 3.

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