Kylian Mbappe suggests Karim Benzema would have to "stop thinking about the Ballon d'Or forever" if he did not win the top individual award this year.
Benzema is the favourite among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees announced by France Football on Friday.
The announcement marked the end of an era, with last year's winner Lionel Messi absent from the shortlist for the first time since 2005.
Mbappe is at the forefront of the next generation of contenders, and he told France Football he would put himself on the 2022 podium alongside Benzema and Sadio Mane.
But the forward's France team-mate Benzema is clearly a deserving winner, having inspired Real Madrid to LaLiga and Champions League glory.
Indeed, Mbappe feels Benzema will never take home the Ballon d'Or if this is not his year.
"Of course. He is 34 years old, has just made the season of his life, wins another Champions League by often being decisive," the Paris Saint-Germain striker told France Football.
"Instead of Karim, if I don't win there [in that position], I stop thinking about the Ballon d'Or forever."
It has been a fine week for Benzema, who surpassed Raul as Madrid's outright second-highest goalscorer in a midweek Super Cup win over Eintracht Frankfurt, while he was shortlisted for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award ahead of his Ballon d'Or nomination.
But prior to the match in Helsinki, Benzema said: "I'm not like that in terms of whether I'm the best or not. I always give my all for this club, the best club in the world.
"I have to give more and more every year. It's true I had a very good season, but other people can comment on if I'm the best in the world. I'm focused on helping my team in matches, that's all I can say.
"I'm not thinking about [the Ballon d'Or]; there's trophies to win every year, that's very important. I always stress the importance of success for the team that leads to individual success."
After Madrid's victory, Los Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti said there was "no doubt" that Benzema was the world's best player.
Cushing relishing challenge of facing league leaders Miami on home soil
Nick Cushing is "excited" for New York City FC to welcome Lionel Messi and Inter Miami to Yankee Stadium and is looking forward to the challenge.
NYCFC are currently on an eight-match winless streak in MLS, with their last win in the competition coming back on July 4 against CF Montreal on home soil.
They were on the end of a heavy 5-1 thrashing at home in their last outing to Philadelphia Union.
Cushing's side have slipped to sixth in the Eastern Conference but are only three points behind Orlando City in fourth, and the head coach knows that a big performance against Miami would be the boost they need.
"The team is very excited for the game. Obviously, knowing that there's going to be a capacity crowd is something that is really unique," Cushing told GOAL.
"It's a one-off occasion, in the sense of knowing that the atmosphere is going to be amazing. It is going to be a difficult game, but the team is really motivated for the challenge.
"I think for the team as a whole, to put ourselves against the best team in the league, against players of this calibre, and it's a huge opportunity to show the progression we've made as a team."
Meanwhile, Miami hold an eight-point lead at the top of the table but saw their five-match winning streak ended by a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United last time out.
Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba started on the bench, while Sergio Busquets was suspended, as the young players were given a chance to shine.
The former three were brought on but could not help Miami snatch a win, and assistant coach Javi Morales was impressed by how the rotated side handled the game.
"It was a tough game, a tough stadium. We had a good performance, came away with a point," Morales said.
"It's not easy after not playing a lot to be thrown on the field from one day to the next and in that stadium. I think the young players did a good job."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
NYCFC – Alonso Martinez
Nine of Alonso Martinez's 12 goals this regular season have been scored at home, including netting New York City FC's lone goal on Wednesday.
The only two NYCFC players to score 10 home goals in a single MLS campaign are David Villa (three times) and Valentin Castellanos (twice).
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi has played eight times for club and country in the New York City area, totaling seven goals in those appearances, but all those matches were played in northern New Jersey. The Argentine has never appeared in a match in New York state.
Leonardo Campana's strike in midweek was his 30th for Miami, making him the club's all-time leading scorer – Messi is just three goals off equaling that record.
MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN
New York have lost only one of their 10 all-time meetings with Miami (W7 D2), though each of the last two meetings have ended in draws. NYCFC have won all four of their home matches against Miami, keeping clean sheets in all four wins.
However, New York have recorded one win in their last 12 matches in all competitions (D7 L3), with that lone victory coming over Tigres of Liga MX. NYCFC have not defeated an MLS opponent since a 2-0 win over CF Montreal on July 3.
Meanwhile, Miami have collected 63 points through 29 matches this season, equaling the third-most points at this stage of a season in MLS history. The only team to collect 66 points through 30 matches of a season was New England in their points record-setting 2021 campaign.
And though they do not have the best record against NYCFC, their recent form speaks for itself as they are unbeaten in their last six MLS outings.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
NYCFC – 31.3%
Draw – 25.2%
Inter Miami – 43.5%
Ancelotti: Winning is more important than performances
Carlo Ancelotti brushed aside criticism of Real Madrid's unattractive style, saying winning was more important than playing well.
Madrid are unbeaten with five victories across seven games in all competitions this season (two draws), and they got off to a winning start in their Champions League defence on Tuesday, beating Stuttgart 3-1.
In LaLiga, they have won their last two games 2-0 against Real Betis and Real Sociedad, but have still come under fire for their performances.
Ancelotti, however, defended his team's style ahead of their clash at home to mid-table Espanyol.
"Real Madrid fans prefer winning over playing well," he said.
"Ideally you want both, winning while playing an attractive style of football, but our main objective is pleasing our fans who are very demanding, so we will keep our focus on winning as we know that our squad is still far away from ideal form.
"We are not at our best and that is normal in the beginning of a demanding calendar. We will improve as the season starts to get into the important things to play for.
"For the moment we are in, we are doing well."
The Italian added he was not worried about the poor form of forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, who are still a work in progress despite playing better each week.
Mbappe has scored five goals already this campaign, while Vinicius also netted in their last league game, and Ancelotti is confident they will be back to their best soon.
"[The criticism] doesn't bother me because I see that the fans are delighted," Ancelotti said.
"You can play better, but the fans are used to our 'rock and roll' football. Not a lot of touches. We try to make the Madrid fans happy. And our game is about intensity, pace... Without wasting too much time in reaching the opponent's goal.
"These are our characteristics. We have players with a lot of strength and speed, especially on the ball, and we have to take advantage of that.
"For me, I believe that beautiful football depends on the characteristics of the players I have. Attacking well, defending well ... playing well on the counter. There are many facets and everyone has their own opinion..."
Barcelona top the LaLiga standings with 15 points, four ahead of Atletico Madrid, Madrid and Villarreal.
FC Dallas v Los Angeles FC: 'Last chance' saloon for hosts, insists Luccin
FC Dallas interim head coach Peter Luccin labelled his side’s upcoming fixture against Western Conference leaders Los Angeles FC as “crucial” if they are to make the playoffs this season.
The Toros fell to a 3-2 defeat to Real Salt Lake in their last encounter, leaving them 11th in the table and four points behind the playoff line with five games of the season remaining.
Dallas are winless in their last three MLS games, and Luccin reiterated the message to his players that this weekend could be their final chance at continuing their season.
“We need to be clear now,” Luccin started. We cannot lie. We have a game on Saturday that could be our last chance, even though we have two games at home.
“Our last game was important, but this one is crucial for us if we want to try and reach the playoffs.
“It is just making sure everybody is in good shape. We are playing against a big team on Saturday, and we need to be prepared for that game.”
LAFC, meanwhile, were held by Dallas’ playoff rivals Austin FC in midweek, allowing a cluster of sides around them to threaten their third-place position.
Despite dominating for large parts of their encounter last time out, head coach Steve Cherundolo highlighted his side’s rushed approach to proceedings.
While the LAFC head coach acknowledged the fatigue setting in at this stage of the season, he said that some of the mistakes his players were making could cost them in the future.
“I thought with the ball we could have created more in the first half but were too rushed and impatient,” Cherundolo said.
“Our choice-making of passes was often times too risky, with not enough reward.”
“We’ve seen that before in recent weeks and that’s impossible to win games in a fatigued state at this stage of the season if you’re making errors like that.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Dallas – Jesus Ferreira
Ferreira scored his fourth regular-season direct free-kick goal for FC Dallas on Wednesday. Since 2010, the only Americans with more direct free-kick goals in regular season MLS play are Jeff Larentowicz and Chris Tierney (five each).
LAFC – Ryan Hollingshead
Hollingshead recorded his fourth assist of the season on Wednesday. With Hollingshead also having a goal in 2024, this is the sixth straight regular season the defender has contributed to at least five goals dating back to 2019.
MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN
LAFC have lost two of its last 12 away matches in all competitions, including a 4-2 defeat to the Galaxy on Saturday (W8 D2). LAFC conceded seven times in the two losses over that span but allowed just four goals in the other 10 matches.
Dallas has suffered back-to-back home defeats in all competitions after losing just one of its previous 11 at home (W8 D2). Dallas have not lost three straight home matches in all competitions since September 2011.
However, recent fixture suggest Dallas hold the advantage. The home side has lost only one of the 11 all-time meetings between the two sides, a 3-2 LAFC win at Toyota Stadium in 2021. The home team has won each of the five meetings between Dallas and LAFC since.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Dallas – 28%
Draw – 24.2%
LAFC – 47.8%
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