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Kylian Mbappe shared a heartfelt photo with his footballing hero at the Ballon d'Or awards, a decade after being rejected by him as a 10-year-old fan

Kylian Mbappe finally got a selfie with Didier Drogba on Monday night at the Ballon d'Or awards, a decade after being snubbed by him as a 10-year-old boy.

Mbappe/Drogba
  • Mbappe was watching Chelsea take on Barcelona in London in May 2009 when he had been promised a photo with his hero, according to FourFourTwo.
  • However, the French youngster was let down by Drogba, who was caught up in an infamous row with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, whom he called "a f---ing disgrace" live on television.
  • "10 years ago after Chelsea vs Barcelona, a child came to me and wanted to take a picture," said Drogba on stage. "That day I said no. I want to pay my debt now."
  • Watch the heartwarming moment below.
  • Read more of our soccer coverage here.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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Kylian Mbappe was just 10 years old when Chelsea icon Didier Drogba shunned him for a selfie at Stamford Bridge.

The French youngster was on the sidelines watching Chelsea take on Barcelona in the Champions League in May 2009, and had been promised a photo with his hero, according to FourFourTwo.

However, Mbappe was let down by the Ivorian amidst an infamous meltdown after Chelsea's defeat, during which he angrily confronted referee Tom Henning Ovrebo for not awarding his side a penalty, and shouted "it's a f---ing disgrace" into a television camera.

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Drogba was whisked away down the tunnel afterwards, subsequently ending a young Mbappe's hopes of a pic.

On Monday night at the 63rd Ballon d'Or awards, however, Mbappe saw his dream finally come true as he was handed his trophy by Drogba, who was one of the hosts of the prestigious awards night.

"10 years ago after Chelsea vs Barcelona, a child came to me and wanted to take a picture," said Drogba on stage in Paris, says FourFourTwo.

"That day I said no because of the disgraceful refereeing decisions. I learned that the child was Kylian Mbappe. I want to pay my debt now."

Drogba asked the crowd which included Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, and a number of the world's other biggest stars to rise, as he took a selfie with Mbappe and co-host Sandy Heribert.

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Mbappe finished sixth in the final Ballon d'Or standings, behind only Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Virgil van Dijk, and Lionel Messi.

Messi's victory was his sixth of all time and moved him one ahead of Ronaldo as the award's most frequent ever recipient.

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