‘I can’t stand Ballon d’Or’…Kim Min-jae ‘congratulates himself’ on ‘clean sheet against Wales’ nomination

After becoming the first Asian defender to make the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) celebrated on social media.

Kim Min-jae, who was a key center back for Napoli last season, is among the 30 finalists for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. France Football, which organizes the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player, announced the 30 finalists on July 7 (KST).

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), who led his country Argentina to victory at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, and Elling Holland, who led Manchester City to the first treble in the club’s history, were among the nominees, with Napoli’s Kim Min-jae as the only Asian player. 안전놀이터

On August 8, Kim shared a post from France Football on his personal social media saying, “Kim Min-jae included in Ballon d’Or nominations. Kim hadn’t reacted much to the news of his inclusion in the Ballon d’Or nomination announced the day before, but after leading his country to a goalless draw against Wales (0-0), he seemed to take a breather and congratulate himself on the nomination.

For Kim, it’s a moment to be proud of. The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in the world. It”s the official recognition of the best player in the world that year, which is why it”s every soccer player”s dream to win it.

Many legends have won this award. Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano, legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer of Kim Min-jae’s team, and Brazilian soccer king Ronaldo are just a few of the players who have won the Ballon d’Or.

This year, Kim Min-jae, a first-time Ballon d’Or nominee, made Asian soccer history. Kim Min-jae is the first Asian player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or as a defender.

Of the 30 finalists this year, Kim is one of only three defenders, along with Yoshiko Gvardiol and Ousmane Dias (Man City). The list is usually dominated by high-profile strikers and midfielders, with lesser-known defenders and goalkeepers rarely making the cut. The fact that Kim made the cut is a testament to his performance at Napoli last season. He has every reason to be proud of himself.