Mbappe Seeks Solo Ballon d'Or Glory
Despite a trophyless season, Kylian Mbappe believes his record-breaking individual performance justifies a Ballon d'Or win.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Kylian Mbappe will contest the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday without having won a single trophy during the 2025-26 season. Although he is not the favorite among bookmakers, the French forward has built a compelling case based on unprecedented individual records. The award, which carries no cash prize but significantly elevates a player's market value and status, will be decided by voters who must weigh his statistical dominance against the lack of collective silverware.
His strongest argument stems from the 2026 World Cup in North America. Mbappe secured the Golden Boot for the second consecutive tournament and established himself as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. He finished with 22 goals in 22 matches, surpassing Lionel Messi, who has 21, and Miroslav Klose, who has 16. Mbappe highlighted this milestone during a recent interview, noting that overtaking historical legends in the sport's premier tournament is a standout achievement. When asked who he was voting for, he confidently replied, "Myself."
His club performance also featured record-breaking numbers. The former PSG forward finished as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and led the Champions League scoring charts with 15. He believes this consistency across major competitions makes for a strong year. "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," he stated. However, his team results were mixed. Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and exited the Champions League in the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich. This marked a second consecutive season without a major club trophy. France also fell short at the World Cup, placing fourth after losses to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place playoff.
The competition includes rivals who collected significant hardware. Lamine Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and the La Liga title with Barcelona. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich secured three trophies, including the Bundesliga championship. Despite these achievements by opponents, Mbappe remains focused on the individual nature of the award. In a conversation with RFI, he noted that the envelope will contain a player's name, not a team's. He argued that individual performance and memorable moments are what typically define such honors. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has also voiced support, stating that the player who made history this summer is not from PSG or the Spanish national team.
Historical trends suggest a difficulty for trophyless candidates. Over the last decade, every Ballon d'Or winner had at least one major trophy in the relevant year. The 2025 winner, Ousmane Dembele, helped PSG win their first Champions League title. Rodri, the previous year's winner, claimed Euro 2024 with Spain and the Premier League with Manchester City. The only recent precedent for Mbappe's situation is Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013. Ronaldo won his second award despite Real Madrid finishing as league runners-up and Portugal failing to advance past the 2012 World Cup playoffs. He scored 66 goals that season. This precedent offers a slim hope for Mbappe, who has received nine nominations and finished third in 2023. Many observers believe his moment is long overdue.
