WATCH: Mane for Ballon d'Or, stopping Benzema and Mbappe's big decision with Frank Leboeuf

Joe Wright

WATCH: Mane for Ballon d'Or, stopping Benzema and Mbappe's big decision with Frank Leboeuf image

Frank Leboeuf believes Liverpool are the stronger side heading into Saturday's Champions League final, even if the "spirit" of Real Madrid impresses the former France defender. 

Liverpool have already won two cup finals this season, though Madrid have shown the mental resiliency to produce improbable comebacks against Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. 

On the Champs Elysees in Paris, a few miles south of the Stade de France, ESPN pundit Leboeuf previewed the showpiece showdown exclusively with The Sporting News. 

The 1998 World Cup winner breaks down the key battle between Madrid centre-forward Karim Benzema and Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, as well as looking at the midfield tussle. 

Leboeuf also delivers his verdict on the Kylian Mbappe saga, after his compatriot penned a new PSG contract over the last week, electing to stay in France rather than join Madrid. 

Frank Leboeuf was speaking to The Sporting News courtesy of daily soccer talk show ESPN FC.

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a sub-editor for Sporting News UK. He was previously a sub and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service. Joe has reported on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia. Tennis and athletics are his other major sporting passions, and he is a keen runner, even if not an especially fast one. Joe holds a Masters degree in scriptwriting from UEA and a debut novel is due in 2022.