MANCHESTER, England (AP) — By the age of 19 Kylian Mbappe had won the World Cup, become one of the most expensive soccer players ever and was labeled the heir-apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Seven years later, and with Messi and Ronaldo long past their peak, Mbappe is still to be officially recognized as the best player in the world.

If anything, he is going backward.

“You deserve it x1000,” Mbappe graciously posted on social media.

In second place was teenage sensation Lamine Yamal — a player of such prodigious talent that he is now the one predicted to dominate the Ballon d'Or. A new generation is threatening to usurp Mbappe before he's even established himself at the top. Yamal may overtake Mbappe

“The challenges do seem to be getting bigger for him to go to the

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