Pochettino suggests Mbappe may have to leave PSG to fulfill Ballon d'Or potential

Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that Kylian Mbappe may have to leave his Paris Saint-Germain 'comfort zone' to become a Ballon d'Or contender.

World Cup winner Mbappe, who will look to help France defend their crown in Qatar, has been repeatedly linked with a move from the Parc des Princes to Real Madrid.

The Spanish and European champions appeared set to lure Mbappe to Madrid on a free transfer ahead of the 2022-23 season, only for the striker to sign a bumper three-year extension with PSG in May.< /p>

Further uncertainties clouded the 23-year-old's future as fresh reports of discontent emerged in October, although Mbappe assured his commitment remained in the French capital.

Yet former PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that the former Monaco striker may have to move on to fully realize his world-class potential.

Pochettino told Spanish newspaper El Pais: "He may be a leader because everyone considers him the best striker in the world, but today the Ballon d'Or was won by Benzema, who is French like him. Mbappe's evolution comes from leaving the comfort zone.

"Renewing for PSG is good for the club and its supporters. But Mbappe will have to consider in the future that leaving his comfort zone will bring him closer to the fight for the Ballon d'Or."

Mbappe has found the net 19 times in 20 appearances for PSG this season, a tally only bettered by Manchester City's Erling Haaland (23) among players in Europe's top five leagues.

The PSG star became just the second teenager to score in a World Cup final (after Pele in 1958) in his first major international tournament in 2018, although Pochettino believes Mbappe is still "immature".

"Mbappe is younger than [Lionel Messi and Neymar] and still immature," Pochettino said. “But he won a World Cup. He's an animal, he has a lot of charisma but he still needs to find himself.

"Leo and Ney are players in their own right, they are more responsible although in a different way."

Mbappe will hope to propel France to more World Cup glory as the Blues begin their campaign in the Middle East against Australia in Tuesday's Group D clash.