In Madrid, where individual honours are often measured against the club’s long European memory, Kylian Mbappé has made clear that he wants the 2026 Ballon d’Or to return to the Santiago Bernabéu. After a prolific individual season with Real Madrid, the French forward believes he has placed himself among the leading candidates for football’s most prestigious personal prize.
Mbappé said his performances should be the strongest case for his candidacy, while stressing that the award would mean more if it were shared with the supporters who fill the Bernabéu. “I think this has been a good year to win it,” he said. “My feet are my best lawyer, whatever I might say. The most important thing for me is for the Ballon d’Or to come back to Real Madrid.”
He added that the trophy should return to the stadium and its public, saying Madrid supporters deserve the excitement that such recognition would bring. For a player now carrying much of the attacking responsibility at the Spanish giants, the ambition is not presented simply as a personal target, but as another symbol of the club’s standing.
A prize still missing from Mbappé’s collection
Despite his decorated career, Mbappé has yet to win the Ballon d’Or. His résumé already includes major honours with Paris Saint-Germain, the World Cup with France and individual recognition since arriving at Real Madrid. He has also been a leading scorer across several competitions and has collected man-of-the-match and MVP awards, but the Frenchman has not yet claimed the prize awarded by France Football.
The end of the era dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has not made the contest straightforward. Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembélé and Rodri remain part of a deep pool of elite candidates, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is another player Mbappé expects to have a major future.
Mbappé spoke warmly of the 19-year-old Barcelona forward, even as the two represent the most intense club rivalry in Spanish football. “He is a hugely talented player and I have the feeling he will have a great career,” Mbappé said. “I wish him the best.”
The 2026 gala will ultimately decide whether Mbappé’s form and Real Madrid’s season are enough to bring the golden trophy back to the Spanish capital.
