Kylian Mbappé is convinced he has a strong case for this year’s Ballon d’Or despite his lack of silverware with Real Madrid and France
Football’s most prestigious individual award is an honor that has eluded Mbappe so far in his illustrious career.
Mbappé came third in the voting in 2023 when Lionel Messi won for the eighth time, and that year was the only time he has featured in the top three.
Bayern Munich and England talisman Harry Kane is the bookies’ favorite for the award, with Lamine Yamal also seemingly ahead of Mbappé following Spain’s World Cup triumph.
Mbappé is betting on the Ballon d’Or
Mbappé suffered disappointment this summer as France lost to Spain in the semi-finals, with that fruitless campaign following a second season with Real Madrid in which the Whites went trophyless.
Individually, however, Mbappe enjoyed an extremely prolific 2025-26 season, scoring 42 goals in 44 games for Madrid. He then scored 10 at the World Cup to become the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 22, and has already netted four goals for Madrid this season.
And he believes those feats should trump his fortunes in terms of team silverware when it comes to Ballon d’Or voting.
“I would vote for myself to win the Ballon d’Or,” Mbappé said the team.
“I am convinced that I can win it this year, so I have not gone away.
“Of course. I see it as an individual award. People look at what the player has contributed individually.
“Then some say that I have not won titles, but I have not seen a Ballon d’Or awarded unanimously that meets all the conditions every time.
“Has it ever been awarded with 100 percent of the vote? That means there’s always someone who thinks the winner doesn’t deserve it. From now on, I’m not saying I’m going to win it unanimously.”
“But I think I have the arguments: to be the all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup and to beat all the legends of the sport in the biggest tournament this sport has ever created.
“That’s something that sticks in people’s minds, it’s a global event. To finish as the top scorer in the biggest competition where the best players in the world take part is huge.
“I don’t know if this has ever been achieved, but the principle says that making history must always be rewarded.
“I would vote for me. But I can understand those who vote for another. We are not in a dictatorship of thought.
“But when I look at the arguments, and when I look at the competition, I look at myself and say, Yeah … I’m not going to get robbed.”
When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The winner of the Ballon d’Or 2026 will be named on October 26.
In a departure from tradition, the ceremony will be held in London, rather than Paris.
The award is based on performance in the 2025-26 season, rather than the calendar year. It covers the period from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, taking into account players’ exploits for their clubs and at the World Cup.
Mbappé’s French team-mate Ousmane Dembele won the award in 2025, emerging victorious ahead of Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha after PSG won the Champions League for the first time in 2024-25, a title they successfully defended last season.
As Mbappé’s former club once again tasted European success, Madrid crashed out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals. They finished eight points behind Barcelona in LaLiga and exited the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 at the hands of second-tier Albacete.
Despite these disappointments, Mbappé is still firmly in the running to receive the award for the first time, with PSG star Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Spain’s World Cup Ballon d’Or winner Rodri also considered among the favourites. Barcelona midfielder Rodri won 2024 during his time at Manchester City.
