Varane: 'Young alien' Mbappe should win Ballon d'Or

Raphael Varane believes France teammate Kylian Mbappe's otherworldly talents make him deserving of recognition as the best player on earth.

The Paris Saint-Germain sensation was bestowed with the Best Young Player Award at the World Cup after Didier Deschamps' side won Sunday's final against Croatia. Now, Varane has begun a campaign for Mbappe to be named the greatest footballer in the world by breaking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's 10-year monopoly on the Ballon d'Or prize.

"If he does not win the next Ballon d'Or, we will tell him that it is not normal - we will yell at him! Yes, Kylian is a more precocious talent than I was. His intelligence and maturity really left an impression - his talent is monstrous," Varane told L'Equipe, with translation from ESPN's Jonathan Johnson.

"I have known some extra-terrestrial talents in my time, but I think that this is the first time that I have met a young alien! Everything moves quickly. When I speak tactics with him pre-match, I do not have time to finish my sentences - he has already understood and assimilated it."

Mbappe is naturally linked with big-money moves following his performances in Russia, but he has vowed to remain at Paris Saint-Germain. The 19-year-old forward became the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, joining Pele with the distinction after the Brazilian nabbed a brace in 1952. Overall, he netted four times in Russia, with his standout outing being his two-goal haul against Argentina in the round of 16.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

"Whatever happens, I advise Kylian to keep playing the same role for Les Bleus - he will certainly become even more important over the years," Varane, who plies his trade with Real Madrid, continued. "He should continue to do what he knows how to do, without trying to burden himself by doing too much, and stay this way - he should remain focused on his role for the team.

"You cannot demand of somebody just 20 years old to fill the role of a 35-year-old veteran. When you burst onto the scene early like Kylian has, expectations are high."

Mbappe has already won a World Cup, two Ligue 1 titles, the Coupe de France, and the Coupe de la Ligue in the senior game. Last season he pocketed 13 league goals and eight assists in the French top flight, where he regularly lined up alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani in attack.