Kylian Mbappe, the forward for France and Real Madrid, reiterated his confidence on Tuesday in securing the Ballon d’Or, highlighting his outstanding individual achievements over the past year.
At 27 years old, Mbappe led the scoring charts in some of the sport’s most prestigious competitions, topping the charts at the summer’s World Cup, as well as in last season’s Champions League and La Liga. Despite these personal milestones, he experienced collective disappointments, with France falling in the World Cup semi-finals and Real Madrid finishing second in La Liga and exiting the Champions League quarter-finals to Bayern Munich.
Speaking to RFI radio, Mbappe emphasized the nature of the award, stating, “They won’t announce a team in the envelope, they will announce a player.” He stressed that the prize values individual brilliance and memorable moments, qualities he believes he has demonstrated consistently.
Mbappe’s Remarkable Scoring Feats Amid Fierce Competition
Last season, Mbappe netted 25 goals in La Liga, scored 15 times in the Champions League, and added 10 goals during the World Cup. His performance at the international tournament was historic, making him the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history with 22 goals overall.
Nonetheless, the race for the Ballon d’Or remains highly competitive. Several players who achieved significant success with their clubs or countries in 2026 also contend for the accolade. Spanish talents Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres celebrated La Liga titles with Barcelona and victories at the World Cup, while PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also made notable contributions in their respective campaigns.