Barcelona’s talismanic forward, Lionel Messi, has named the player he expects to win the Ballon d’Or in 2020 but it is not his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine instead picked Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain as a potential Ballon d’Or winner in 2020.

Messi won the award for this year, on Monday, ahead of Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo in Paris, France.

33-year-old, who is keen to secure more Ballons d’Or in the future, says Mbappe is a new threat.

“I could not imagine it. I would never have thought of winning even one.

“But I am very happy. It’s a recognition that makes me proud. Maybe I will win more. Maybe, I do not know when.

“Kylian Mbappe could too. Surely he’s a great player,” Messi told L’Equipe.