Kylian Mbappe doubles down on Ballon d’Or hopes in fresh media push

Kylian Mbappe scored 25 league goals last seasons, including 15 strikes in the Champions League, and added 10 at the FIFA World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has reaffirmed his belief that his individual achievements make him a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or, despite ending the season without a major trophy.

The 27-year-old finished as the leading scorer at the World Cup, in La Liga and in the Champions League, but France exited in the World Cup semi-finals while Real Madrid were runners-up in the league and lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Speaking to RFI, Mbappe stressed that the Ballon d’Or rewards individual excellence rather than collective success.

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“They do not put a team’s name in the envelope; they announce one player,” Mbappe said. “Individual performance and memorable moments are what people notice in an award like this.”

Mbappe scored 25 league goals, struck 15 times in the Champions League and added 10 at the World Cup. His World Cup haul took him to 22 goals in the competition, making him its outright all-time leading scorer.

However, the Real Madrid star faces stiff competition from players who combined individual form with silverware. Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres won La Liga and the World Cup, while PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia lifted Ligue 1 and the Champions League. Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane also won the Bundesliga.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.