In Madrid, where individual acclaim is never far from the club’s wider demand for trophies, Kylian Mbappé has chosen a simple argument for his Ballon d’Or candidacy: what he does on the pitch should carry more weight than anything he says away from it.
With the ceremony for football’s leading individual award approaching in the coming weeks, the Real Madrid forward reflected on the possibility of winning it for the first time. Mbappé described his year as a potentially strong one, but stressed that the final decision belongs to the voters rather than the player.
“I think it can be a good year; I have said that,” Mbappé said. “But after that it no longer depends on me. I try to help my team-mates, give everything I have and persuade the people who vote. That is where my job ends.”
The France international, whose career has already brought major honours with Paris Saint-Germain, individual recognition and a World Cup with France, remains without the Ballon d’Or on his personal record. His move to Real Madrid has placed him at another of Europe’s great stages, where each season is measured both by collective silverware and by the standing of its leading names.
Mbappé made clear that he does not see public campaigning as part of the contest. “I can speak well with my mouth, but my best lawyer is my feet,” he said. “I always want to play with my feet.”
The long era in which Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo repeatedly dominated the prize has eased, yet the race remains crowded. Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal and Rodri are among the prominent figures in contention, leaving the outcome in the hands of the France Football electorate.
