- Kylian Mbappé (27) said at a press conference on Monday that he feels 2026 could be “a good year” for him to win the Ballon d’Or
- The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on 26th October, with Ousmane Dembélé (29) heading into the event as the reigning winner
- Mbappé scored 42 goals in 44 matches across all competitions in 2025-26 and became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals
Real Madrid Status Adds Weight to Mbappé’s Ballon d’Or Case
Kylian Mbappé believes playing for Real Madrid naturally puts him in the conversation for football’s biggest individual honour, with the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony now only a few weeks away.
The 27-year-old is among the leading names being discussed for the award, currently held by Ousmane Dembélé (29). With the race still open, Mbappé has made no secret of the fact that he considers himself a serious contender.
“I think that when you play for Real – the best club in the world – people naturally associate you with this sort of honour, whether team or individual,” he said at a press conference on Monday. “Of course, lots of people on the street talk to me about the Ballon d’Or and say I’m a possible winner. It’s an award that, for any player, is a very positive thing. It’s true that I made a lot of history this summer in the sport’s most important competition. We’ll see. I have a feeling it’s a good year for that. But there’s still plenty of time, and people are free to think whatever they like about who they believe is the best player in the world.”
🚨 Kylian Mbappé: "Am I the best in the world? I ALWAYS THINK SO.
But that's very personal. I'm sure there are a lot of people who think I'm the best and others who don't.
I think this is a good year for me to win the Ballon d'Or." pic.twitter.com/92GfdzEiNy
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) September 7, 2026
Goal Records Strengthen His Individual Case
Mbappé ended the club season without a trophy, but his individual numbers provide a strong foundation for his Ballon d’Or candidacy. Real Madrid’s number 10 finished as La Liga’s top scorer and ended the 2025-26 campaign with 42 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions.
His performances on the international stage add another major element to his case. Mbappé became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals at the age of 27 and also became the first player to finish as the tournament’s top scorer twice, doing so in 2022 and 2026.
Mbappé Makes the Case for Himself
Mbappé has been equally direct when discussing how he would judge the Ballon d’Or if he had a vote himself. Asked who he would choose, he replied: “Who’d I vote for the Ballon d’Or? I’d vote for me”.
Speaking to L’Équipe, he argued that individual performance should remain central to how the award is judged: “It is individual award we look at what the player has done individually”.
Mbappé also suggested that his own body of work puts him firmly in contention, adding: “When we look at the arguments… I look, and I say to myself that yeah… it wouldn’t be stolen”.
His argument extends beyond his overall scoring numbers to his performances on the biggest stages. Mbappé said: “Being the top scorer of all biggest competitions, where the best players play… the UCL, the World Cup… I don’t know if anyone did it before”.
For the Frenchman, making an impact of that scale should carry significant weight when the winner is decided. He continued: “I believe that making history should always be rewarded”.
Defensive Work Rate Question Draws Sharp Response
Mbappé was also challenged over his defensive contribution and whether he and Vinícius Júnior should offer more without the ball. When asked, “Do you think you and Vini should improve defensively?” Mbappé immediately pushed back with: “Just me and Vini?”
The journalist then pointed to two other high-profile attackers, saying: “Raphinha and Dembele press more, for example.” Mbappé responded by turning the comparison towards attacking output: “I could play dumb and tell you I score more than the two you mentioned.”
Mbappé’s public case for the Ballon d’Or therefore rests on several fronts: his status at Real Madrid, his scoring record across the season and his historic World Cup achievements. He has also made clear that, when judged purely on individual performance at the highest level, he believes his name deserves to be at the centre of the conversation when the award is presented on 26th October.
