Jérôme Rothen has launched an extraordinary attack on Kylian Mbappé, claiming the Real Madrid forward's Ballon d'Or campaign could leave him isolated.
The former France international made the comments on RMC Sport while discussing the Ballon d'Or race and Mbappé's public campaign for the award.
Rothen went as far as to say that Mbappé winning the prize would be a "joke", before questioning the extent of the effort being made by the player and his entourage to secure votes.
"I announce it to you... if Mbappé wins the Ballon d'Or, it's a joke, and he's going to end up very alone."
The former Paris Saint-Germain winger then intensified his criticism, claiming that Mbappé was actively trying to influence the vote.
"But I don't know if you really realise it, do you realise that right now he's trying to buy votes for the Ballon d'Or... to get that f****** Ballon d'Or?"
Rothen acknowledged that his comments were likely to generate a reaction but insisted he would not soften his position.
"I'm going to be careful with what I say, because it always provokes reactions, but nobody is going to shut me up."
His criticism centred on what he described as a campaign by Mbappé and those around him to make winning the award an absolute priority.
"If Mbappé wins the Ballon d'Or, to start with I think it's a farce, but we'll all be clear about it."
Rothen also claimed that his view was not confined to former players or pundits.
"Here we're talking about football, but it's not just former players who come out. Sometimes we talk among ourselves. We all think the same about him, and not just players of little importance, but the big ones think the same about him too."
He then returned to his central accusation.
"At least now we have confirmation that there is a real campaign on his part, on the part of his entourage: it is essential that Kylian Mbappé wins the Ballon d'Or."
Rothen's comments are his own assessment of the Ballon d'Or campaign rather than evidence that Mbappé has actually attempted to influence individual voters.
But the former France winger clearly believes the intensity surrounding the Real Madrid star's pursuit of the award has become excessive.
"If he wins the Ballon d'Or, I think he's going to be very alone," Rothen concluded.