Nzonzi backs Mbappé for Ballon d’Or and hails Rodri as world’s leading midfielder

Steven Nzonzi, the former France international and Sevilla midfielder, has offered a revealing assessment of the game’s current elite, placing Kylian Mbappé at the top of the global game and describing Spain’s Rodri as the best midfielder in the world.

Speaking while continuing his playing career with Dunkerque in the French second division, the 2018 World Cup winner reflected on the levels of several leading figures for club and country, including his compatriots Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Spain and Barcelona midfielder Rodri.

Camavinga, confidence and the national team

Nzonzi, who shared a dressing room with Eduardo Camavinga at Rennes, believes the midfielder is rediscovering his best version with France.

“He is on his way to recovering his best level, thanks to the confidence Zidane gives him with the national team,” Nzonzi said, highlighting the impact of consistent trust from the international setup.

He described the “strange” contrast between Camavinga’s trajectory in Madrid and his performances with France. “The strange thing is the decline he has experienced in Madrid, because he is a top-class player. I watched him up close for a long time, and I know what he is capable of offering. I think injuries halted his progress, but he is only 23 years old, and I see that he is still capable of becoming one of the best midfielders in Europe… if he believes in himself and gets confidence and stability.”

For a young midfielder operating at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, that need for “confidence and stability” is central. At club level, competition for places, tactical demands and rotation often sit alongside the pressure of delivering in the UEFA-governed European competitions. Strong performances with the national team can reinforce a player’s standing ahead of major international tournaments and influence how a coaching staff integrates them across league and continental campaigns.

Rodri vs Tchouaméni: Nzonzi’s midfield verdict

Asked to compare Rodri and Aurélien Tchouaméni, Nzonzi was cautious about drawing direct lines between two players operating at the top of the European game, but he did not hesitate in identifying who, in his view, stands alone in midfield right now.

Nzonzi told Spanish newspaper AS: “I don’t like comparisons very much, as both of them are amazing. Rodri is extremely intelligent, and outstanding in every aspect, and he controls midfield as few players do, but Tchouameni is also a top-class player. I think Rodri is the best midfielder in the world at present.”

Rodri’s importance for club and country is built on his capacity to dictate rhythm, protect the defence and launch attacks from deep – qualities Nzonzi, a holding midfielder himself, is well placed to appreciate. For Tchouaméni, being mentioned in the same breath underlines his current status among Europe’s top midfielders, and reinforces his long-term importance for France in major tournaments and for his club in domestic and continental title races.

Mbappé, the Ballon d’Or and the Messi-Ronaldo benchmark

Nzonzi’s strongest endorsement was reserved for Kylian Mbappé. He made clear that, in his eyes, the France forward has moved ahead of his contemporaries.

“I think he is the best in the world at present. And despite his lack of some titles, what he has achieved on an individual level is impressive. I see that the forecasts talk of the candidates being very close, but I believe the next Ballon d’Or should be his,” Nzonzi said.

He expanded on that view, stressing the distinction between collective honours and individual excellence. “There are players who win titles, but I believe there is nobody in the world who matches him as a footballer. I respect everyone’s opinion, but this is my view. The Ballon d’Or should go to the best player, or to the one who has offered the most, and I think there has been nobody like Kylian.”

The forward’s performances at club and international level have kept him at the centre of every major discussion around individual awards. With the Ballon d’Or continuing to shape reputations and legacies globally, endorsements from former international teammates like Nzonzi reinforce perceptions that Mbappé is now the standard-bearer of his generation.

Chasing legends: Mbappé, Messi and Cristiano

The natural follow-up to any discussion of Mbappé’s place in the game is how close he is to the careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. On that question, Nzonzi was measured.

Can Mbappé reach their status? “He is on the way, but he has not reached that status yet. They are two genuine legends, they won everything on both the individual and collective levels, and Mbappé still has a long road ahead to prove many things. Time will tell,” he said.

Nzonzi’s assessment reflects a broader view inside elite dressing rooms: Mbappé has already altered the balance of power in international football, but matching two careers built over many seasons of domestic titles, European trophies and international success will require sustained dominance. Upcoming club seasons and major tournaments will continue to define whether he can translate his current level into the kind of long-term supremacy associated with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Olise and Lamine Yamal: “the best two wingers in the world”

Nzonzi also offered a strikingly firm view on the new generation of wide forwards. Asked about Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal, he did not hedge his response.

“Yes, I strongly believe so. They are the best two wingers in the world, both of them enjoy star status, and they have a big impact, as well as being players who are enjoyable to watch. I think they are at the same level at present,” he said.

For both players, such praise from a World Cup winner underscores how quickly they have moved into the top tier of attacking talent. In practical terms, that status brings heightened expectations at club level in domestic leagues and European competition, but it also strengthens their positions in national-team hierarchies as coaches shape squads with an eye on balance, creativity and match-winning ability from wide areas.

From midfield anchor to the touchline

As he assesses the new generation from the perspective of an experienced holding midfielder, Nzonzi is also preparing his own transition from the pitch to the technical area.

“I am close to obtaining the European coaching licence of the first category, and I will try to find out whether I can build a future in coaching. The players who played in my position enjoy more options, thanks to the vision of the game they acquired over the years they spent on the pitch,” he said.

That pathway from midfield anchor to coach is a familiar one in the modern game. Players who spent their careers reading play, organising team structure and managing transitions often move naturally into roles where tactical planning and in-game adjustments are central responsibilities. With formal licensing forming part of the regulatory framework for professional technical staff in Europe, Nzonzi’s next steps could see him apply his on-field experience to shape the careers of the same type of midfielders and attackers he praises today.

A generation under scrutiny

Nzonzi’s comments, ranging from Camavinga’s need for stability to Rodri’s all-round control and Mbappé’s claim to the Ballon d’Or, reflect the way one generation of world champions views its successors. For clubs and national teams, these assessments are more than opinion: they point to who is trusted to carry tactical responsibility, decide big matches and lead squads into decisive phases of domestic seasons, continental competitions and international tournaments.

As he edges closer to a future on the bench rather than in midfield, Nzonzi’s eye for balance, intelligence and temperament offers a window into how coaches and technical staff may shape the next era of European and international football.