Ballon d’Or: ‘Shut up’ — Rothen slams Mbappe over latest comments
Former PSG Star Criticizes Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or Ambitions
Former Paris Saint-Germain player Jerome Rothen has criticized Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe for his recent assertions regarding the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Mbappe expressed confidence in his chances of winning the prestigious award for the first time, citing his performances for both Real Madrid and the French national team.
Rothen responded by questioning Mbappe’s claim to be the best player in the world last season. “Everything is calculated in his communication. I don’t recall those who won the Ballon d’Or in recent years demanding it as much as he does,” Rothen said on his show Rothen s’enflamme.
He added, “Kylian, no one thinks you were the best player in the world last season. When you have not won a trophy of the year, shut up!”
During the 2025-26 season, Mbappe scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid, finishing as the top scorer in LaLiga with 25 goals and in the UEFA Champions League with 15 goals. His candidacy for the 2026 Ballon d’Or was further bolstered by an impressive performance in the World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals. This achievement made him the first player in history to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice.