Kylian Mbappé has placed the individual case at the centre of his Ballon d’Or bid, arguing that the award should recognise the player capable of producing the most decisive and memorable performances. The former Paris Saint-Germain forward is targeting the prize due to be presented in London on 26 October, despite ending the season without a major trophy for Real Madrid or France.
Key takeaways
- Mbappé believes his scoring record across major competitions makes 2026 a strong Ballon d’Or year for him.
- He finished as La Liga’s leading scorer with 25 goals and topped the Champions League scoring chart with 15.
- The France captain became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer this summer, reaching 22 goals across three tournaments.
- Real Madrid won no major title, while France were knocked out in the World Cup semi-finals.
- His public campaign has drawn criticism after a difficult Madrid derby display against Atlético Madrid.
Mbappé makes the individual argument
Mbappé has insisted that collective honours should not be the only measure in the Ballon d’Or discussion. Speaking ahead of the London ceremony, he stressed that the award will be handed to one footballer, rather than a team.
“They are not going to read out the name of a club from the envelope; they will name a player,” Mbappé said. “Individual excellence and the ability to leave people amazed are what stay with voters for a prize like the Ballon d’Or.”
He pointed to his output over the campaign, having led the scoring in both Spain’s top division and the Champions League. His 25 La Liga goals and 15 in Europe came despite Madrid finishing the season without a major trophy.
Mbappé also added a historic World Cup mark during the summer, becoming the competition’s leading scorer with 22 goals from three editions. France’s run nevertheless ended at the semi-final stage.
“I was the top scorer in the biggest competitions and I think it can be a good year for me,” he said. “I have a good feeling about it.”
Derby disappointment and criticism of the campaign
The latest interview arrived around the Madrid derby against Atlético, a match in which Mbappé and Real Madrid endured a difficult afternoon at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
His repeated public appearances on the Ballon d’Or subject have also attracted a sharp response. One commentator described his derby performance as disastrous and argued that Mbappé has become overly focused on securing the individual award.
The criticism extended to the tone of Mbappé’s media campaign, with the suggestion that the forward was overstating his contribution and that an eventual victory would feel less convincing because of the way his candidacy has been promoted.
Mbappé has presented himself as one of the leading contenders, while also reflecting on the different paths taken by other elite players. In comments made earlier this month, he said there had been years when he regarded himself as the best player in the world, but accepted the outcome when Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo won the award.
He contrasted that with players he felt he would not have traded places with, even if they had won the Ballon d’Or. Discussing Ousmane Dembélé without directly making him the central target of his argument, Mbappé said Dembélé had always been recognised for his talent but had travelled a different route, affected by injuries before recovering strongly.
Mbappé, meanwhile, said he had been viewed from an early age as the player expected to reach the summit quickly. With the Ballon d’Or vote approaching, he has made clear that he believes his goals and individual influence should keep him firmly in the race.
