Real Madrid’s Mbappe confident of Ballon d’Or despite trophyless season | Cricket
Kylian Mbappé Eyes Ballon d’Or Despite Trophyless Season
Published: September 12, 2026
Kylian Mbappé remains confident in his chances for the Ballon d’Or, despite not securing any trophies during his season with Real Madrid and a semifinal exit for France in the World Cup.
In an interview with France Football, the 27-year-old forward expressed his belief that his individual performances merit recognition as the world’s best player. “I believe I can win it this year. It’s one of my goals, and a short-term one at that,” Mbappé stated. He noted the individual nature of the award, referring to its history of not always aligning with team successes. “People say I didn’t win a trophy, but it’s an individual award. I’ve never seen a Ballon d’Or winner elected unanimously.”
Mbappé concluded the season with impressive statistics, netting 15 goals in the UEFA Champions League and 25 in La Liga. He also added to his World Cup legacy, becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, although France’s journey ended in a 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain.
“My idea of the Ballon d’Or comes from the Messi and Ronaldo era – you don’t give it to ordinary players; you give it to players who are different,” he said. “I think I did things that were different this year, so I believe I can win it.”
When asked whether he views himself as a deserving winner, Mbappé was firm in his response. “There was no player better than me,” he asserted. “Scoring that many goals in major competitions, especially at the World Cup, the biggest event, is significant. Throughout my holidays, that was all people talked to me about.”
Reflecting on the significance of the World Cup, he added, “It’s difficult to fully grasp what the World Cup means. It’s the competition of great players. To tell yourself that, at 27, I’m already the one who has scored the most goals… It’s even more special because you take the record from Leo Messi, who for many people is the greatest player in history alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Mbappé also praised the appointment of Zinedine Zidane, a 1998 World Cup winner, as the new head coach of the French national team. “For French people, he means a great deal – he’s a legend… He made his mark on the history of the national team as a player and had some truly iconic moments,” he said.
Zidane’s leadership is expected to inspire a new generation of French footballers, and Mbappé expressed enthusiasm about the direction of the national team under his guidance.
