With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony drawing closer, Kylian Mbappé has made no attempt to hide his belief that he deserves to win the prestigious individual award.
In a new interview with L’Équipe, the Real Madrid forward argued that his individual performances this season should carry significant weight, despite his failure to win major team trophies.
Mbappé highlighted his record-breaking campaign at the 2026 World Cup as one of the strongest arguments for his candidacy. He became the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer, moving ahead of several legendary names in the competition’s history.
According to Mbappé, achieving such a milestone on football’s biggest international stage should not be overlooked when voters assess the leading contenders for the award.
During the 2025–26 season, Mbappé scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid before adding another 10 goals at the World Cup. His tournament tally now stands at 22 goals, the highest ever recorded by a player at the World Cup. He has also already scored four goals for Madrid this season.
Responding to criticism that he ended the campaign without a major trophy, Mbappé argued that no Ballon d’Or winner has ever secured the award through a unanimous vote. He therefore rejected the suggestion that a player must have a completely trophy-filled season to be considered the best.
The French star also acknowledged that voters could reasonably favour other contenders, including Rodri and Lamine Yamal, who enjoyed significant success with Spain and their respective clubs.
Mbappé ultimately made his position clear, saying he would vote for himself while respecting those who believe another player deserves the honour, stressing that “we’re not in a dictatorship of thought.”
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner is scheduled to be announced on October 26, with the ceremony set to take place in London for the first time. The award will consider performances between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026, including both club and World Cup performances.
