Lionel Messi backs Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr to battle it out for his Ballon d'Or crown

Lionel Messi has revealed who he expects to conflict for nan Ballon d'Or successful nan coming years.

For nan past 15 years, nan Argentinian playmaker and Cristiano Ronaldo person dominated nan award.

The Inter Miami subordinate group a caller grounds by winning his eighth grant past nighttime successful Paris, extending his number of trophies complete his Portuguese rival. 

However, pinch Messi now aged 36 - it is expected that this will beryllium his past grant and it is now up to nan adjacent procreation of superstars to return over. 

Asked who he thinks could beryllium nan adjacent to triumph nan award, Messi told L'Equipe 'For a fewer years, we person seen players that tin triumph it coming through.

'It could beryllium hotly contested successful nan coming years pinch players for illustration Haaland, Mbappé and Vinicíus Juinor. 

'There are tons of young players that will conflict for nan Ballon d'Or. I besides deliberation that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young but who has already played very good pinch Barcelona and has go an important subordinate [could compete]. 

'There will surely beryllium others who will conflict for it arsenic good pinch different players yet to appear. It will beryllium a caller era.'

Former team-mate Mbappe riled up nan supporters of Stade Brest during Paris Saint-Germain's 3-2 triumph location connected Sunday - and past doubled down connected societal media to take sides his actions.

The French skipper scored to put his broadside 2-0 up astatine Stade Francis-Le Ble, but Brest pegged them backmost to 2-2. Mbappe saw an 89th infinitesimal punishment saved, but was successful nan correct spot to dispatch nan rebound and put PSG up pinch his 250th profession nine goal.

Mbappe, 24, was booked for a motion to nan crowd during his extremity celebration, and was instantly substituted disconnected successful favour of Nordi Mukiele.  

Mbappe taunted nan Brest supporters, geeing them up successful guidance to their ain anger, and making manus gestures signalling nan 3-2 scoreline successful favour of PSG.

French sports journalist Bertrand Latour wrote connected X: 'A skipper of nan French squad should not do that.'