Kylian Mbappe has put his individual achievements at the centre of his Ballon d’Or campaign, arguing that his goalscoring record gives him every reason to believe he can win the prestigious award.
The Real Madrid and France attacker spoke confidently about his chances on Tuesday, despite ending the season without a major team trophy.
Mbappe enjoyed an extraordinary run in front of goal. He finished as the leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup and also topped the scoring charts in both La Liga and the Champions League.
His numbers, however, came without the silverware that often strengthens a Ballon d’Or case.
France were eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals, while Real Madrid finished second in La Liga. Their Champions League campaign also ended in the quarter-finals after Bayern Munich knocked them out.
Mbappe remains convinced that his individual performances could be enough to put him in contention.
Speaking to RFI, the 27-year-old stressed that the award recognises individual players rather than teams.
He pointed to his ability to deliver goals and memorable moments in the biggest competitions as part of his argument.
Mbappe scored 25 times in La Liga, followed by 15 goals in the Champions League and 10 at the World Cup.
His World Cup tally also took him to 22 goals in the competition overall, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
“I was top scorer in all the biggest competitions, and I think that this could be a good year for me, and I really feel it,” Mbappe said.
The Frenchman nevertheless faces a crowded field of contenders, particularly players who combined individual contributions with major trophies.
Spain captain Rodrigo Hernandez, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, led his country to the 2026 World Cup title.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres also lifted both the World Cup and La Liga during the campaign.
PSG stars Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia enjoyed a similarly successful season, winning Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Harry Kane also added a Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich to his list of achievements.
Mbappe has already spoken about his desire to bring the Ballon d’Or back to Real Madrid.
In an earlier interview with Diario AS, he said winning the individual honour would give Madridistas another reason to celebrate at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The wait for the winner will end on October 26, when the Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in London.
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