*This content was translated by AI.
Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti (33) criticized French national team teammate Kylian Mbappé (28, Real Madrid), delivering a sharp remark and also criticizing the Ballon d'Or.
Football specialist 'Goal.com' reported on the 11th (Korea time) that Umtiti appeared on the French RMC program 'After Foot' and directly refuted Mbappé's recent remarks regarding the Ballon d'Or.
Previously, after Mbappé had a historic season, including becoming the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, he claimed he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or.
On the broadcast, Umtiti said, "Mbappé is full of confidence," but added, "It is not his place to discuss who will receive the award. He should focus only on the field." He further pointed out, "While it is true that he has scored many goals and performed well, he should not answer or decide that he is the winner himself."
Umtiti also strongly criticized the Ballon d'Or ceremony itself. He stated, "I don't even watch the ceremony. The Ballon d'Or has completely lost its value and is ruining football, which is a perfect team sport." This is because players are more obsessed with individual awards than team championships.
He also raised his voice regarding the recent evaluation method that relies on statistics. He drew a line by saying, "You can win while thinking only of yourself in your club and the UEFA Champions League (UCL). But football is not just about statistics."
Finally, Umtiti revealed that he has lost interest in the Ballon d'Or since the era of Messi and Ronaldo. He added, "In the past, those two players proved themselves with overwhelming stats and exceptional performances even without major trophies. But now, there is no single great player who dominates all other players."
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*This content was translated by AI.
