Roten on Mbappe Interview: Kylian, No One Thinks You Were the World's Best Player Last Season

In a preview clip of an interview released by L'Equipe, Mbappe said he would vote for himself for the Ballon d'Or. In response, Paris legend Jerome Rothen said on the program: “Kylian, no one thinks you were the world's best player last season.”

Host: Kylian's (Mbappe's) interview was definitely a joke, right? Wasn't it?

Rothen: Oh, he was serious? Well, then we have to answer seriously.

Host: Oh yes, it was like a self-recommendation letter. He wants the Ballon d'Or.

Rothen: Alright, honestly, I can't talk about it for too long. It is September 7, so in reality, as usual, everything in his public relations statements has been carefully calculated. There is nothing spontaneous or improvised about it.

Host: Why? Is it because of the date this interview was released?

Rothen: Sorry, there are several things mixed together here. He gave an interview during this period, coincidentally just a few weeks before the Ballon d'Or voting. So declaring himself the world's best player and saying he wants the Ballon d'Or was a clever move, because at least he was the first to say it publicly, you understand? However, I do not think the people who won the Ballon d'Or in recent years pushed for it in the same way he has. That is the first point. Then, when he said, “Yes, some people here will think I am the world's best player, while others will not,” Kylian, I can assure you, no one thinks you were the world's best player over the past year. No one, not a single person.

Host: Why?

Rothen: Why? Because he scored some goals for Real Madrid, is that all? Do I need to remind you that three or four months ago he was booed by the home fans at the Bernabeu? Was it me, was it you, was it Dugarry, or was it Eric who booed him at the Bernabeu? Or was it those club members and fans who love their team who were booing this so-called “world's best player”? Damn, for a so-called “incredible year,” this is crazy, but you have completely forgotten all of that. It is only because you scored against Real Sociedad or Malaga. However, this weekend's match—which is why I told you everything is carefully calculated, and this is what I find most unacceptable and even impossible to understand about his public relations communication—on Friday night, I commentated on a match between Real Madrid and Real Betis, and he played terribly. Extremely badly. Then just two days later, none of this matters anymore, it has all been forgotten. You dropped points, while Barcelona are sweeping everyone aside, they are already three points ahead and have scored 17 goals. And you, you dropped points against Betis, but that does not matter, you missed a penalty, but that does not matter either. The most important thing is to become the world's best player and win the Ballon d'Or, because the only thing he cares about is that, as well as shining at the World Cup. But as far as I know—and I also want to hear Eric and Dugarry's opinions—at the World Cup, there was a Golden Boot award, and he won it; but there was also a best player award, and he did not win that, right? As for the Ballon d'Or, if it were only awarded to the “world's best player,” everyone would already know the result. The award also considers other criteria. Of course, you must perform well in terms of individual statistics, but behind those, there are other equally important standards. When you have not won a single trophy in a year, then keep quiet! Keep working hard, just like you did in the first three league rounds. Come on, in the fourth league round, he started causing trouble again. Enough.