Samuel Umtiti has launched a scathing critique of both the Ballon d'Or and his France international team-mate Kylian Mbappe, dismissing the prestigious individual award as damaging to football's collective values. The former Barcelona defender's comments came after Mbappe publicly stated he deserves the honour following a prolific campaign that included breaking the World Cup's all-time scoring record.
Speaking to RMC's "After Foot" programme, Umtiti questioned Mbappe's approach to the debate. "Mbappe is a self-confident person, but it is not his place to talk about who deserves the award," the centre-back argued. "He needs to focus on what happens on the pitch." Umtiti suggested the Real Madrid forward would inevitably nominate himself if asked directly, highlighting what he sees as a fundamental contradiction in individual players championing their own candidacy.
Award Loses Credibility, Says Umtiti
Beyond his disagreement with Mbappe, Umtiti delivered a broader indictment of the award ceremony itself. "I don't even watch this ceremony," he revealed. "This award has completely lost its value. It harms football, which is fundamentally a team sport." The defender argued that the obsession with individual accolades has distorted priorities within professional football, with players prioritizing personal statistics over collective success. He contrasted this with the era of Messi and Ronaldo dominance, when their exceptional performances provided clearer separation from other candidates.
Umtiti's core argument centers on a simple premise: achievement in team competitions should take precedence over individual metrics. "You can win the Champions League while thinking only about yourself, but it should not work that way," he stated. "Football is not just statistics. Since the Messi-Ronaldo generation, there has not necessarily been one standout player who towers above the rest, making the award increasingly arbitrary."
The 31-year-old's comments reflect a growing debate within football about whether individual honours adequately capture player contribution and value. With multiple top-tier performers competing at similar levels across Europe's major leagues, the Ballon d'Or's relevance continues to spark controversy among players, managers, and analysts alike.
