Il a dû relever son niveau en s'entraînant avec Vinicius et Mbappe.

Kylian Mbappe stated on Tuesday that he believes he is the best player in the world and considers this year a potential opportunity to win the Ballon d'Or. The French forward made these remarks ahead of a Champions League match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium against Inter Milan. Real Madrid enters the fixture after winning its first three league matches, though the club suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla on Friday. Inter Milan has won all three of its opening Serie A games, including a 3-2 comeback victory over Napoli last Saturday after trailing 0-2. The match marks a reunion for Jose Mourinho, who managed Inter Milan previously. The Portuguese coach noted that his squad faces significant absences due to injuries and suspensions carried over from the previous season. Missing players include Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Thiago Pitarch, Ferland Mendy, and Raul Asencio. Silva is suspended following a ban received during a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid last season. Mourinho expressed his desire to win the European trophy with Real Madrid, highlighting the club's success in winning the competition six times in the past decade. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Inter, noting that playing in Madrid is never easy. Cristian Chivu, the current Inter manager, emphasized the need for courage and character to overcome Real Madrid. He pointed out that Inter has not defeated Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 59 years. Chivu described the stadium as more modern and beautiful than before, recalling the exceptional atmosphere of the 2010 final. He spoke highly of Mourinho, describing him as a special person who helped him through a difficult period in life. Chivu added that while he will greet Mourinho before and after the game, only the match matters during play. Mbappe’s comments on the Ballon d'Or came despite Real Madrid finishing the previous season without major trophies. In that campaign, the striker scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for the club. His performance extended to the World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot with ten goals. France finished fourth in the tournament after losing to Spain in the semi-finals and England in the third-place playoff. With 22 career goals, Mbappe became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. He suggested that players at Real Madrid are automatically associated with the award, but noted that journalists make the final decision. In related news, 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande joined Real Madrid from RB Leipzig for 135 million euros this summer. The Ivory Coast international fulfilled childhood dreams by moving to the Spanish capital. Diomande grew up in Abidjan, playing on whatever surfaces were available without proper equipment. He moved to the United States at age 15 to join an academy in Florida. In 2024, he transferred to Leganes in Spain, making ten appearances before moving to Leipzig. At Leipzig, he recorded 13 goals and 10 assists, earning the Bundesliga Young Player of the Year award. This recognition validated the sacrifices made by his family. Diomande represented Ivory Coast at the recent World Cup in North America, helping the team advance from the group stage before falling to Norway. Since joining Real Madrid in early August, he has made three substitute appearances without scoring. He praised the high level of training provided by teammates Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Diomande stated that observing their movements and preparation methods teaches him something new daily. He described the environment as incredible, forcing him to elevate his own standard to compete. The young attacker expressed eagerness to write his chapter at the club and contribute to its future successes.