‘You deserve it’, Mbappe tells Messi

WHAT happened? The France international sent a congratulatory message after the Argentine bagged a record-extending eighth Golden Ball trophy in Paris on Monday evening, as a reward for propelling his nation to a third global crown in Qatar last December.

There has been much debate on whether Messi should have won the award ahead of Mbappe and Erling Haaland, who scored 52 goals last season to fire Manchester City to the treble.

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