Kylian Mbappé has no intention of pretending to have doubts. Just hours before the announcement of the list of 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the Real Madrid forward clearly stated his ambitions: he believes he can win the trophy and would even vote for himself.
The Frenchman notably has an argument that is hard to ignore: his 2026 World Cup. Mbappé finished as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals and became the all-time leading scorer in the competition's history with 22 goals. He also finished as the top scorer of the 2025-2026 season with Real Madrid, with 58 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.
A very strong individual case
Mbappé is indeed embracing an individual reading of the trophy. For him, the lack of a major title with Real Madrid or Les Bleus should not erase his personal performances. His reasoning is simple: the Ballon d'Or above all rewards the best player, and his statistics along with his historic records give him, in his view, serious arguments.
But that is where the debate begins.
Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 winner, remains a serious candidate after PSG's new Champions League victory. Harry Kane, Rodri and Lamine Yamal also have strong arguments, notably thanks to collective titles and their influence during the World Cup.
Can Mbappé finally win the Ballon d'Or?
The Frenchman may have the best statistical case of his career, but the absence of a major collective trophy remains his main weakness. His France side was eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals by Spain, while Real Madrid did not crown their season with a major title.
The question voters will have to settle is therefore this: should Mbappé's statistics and individual records be prioritized, or should more credit be given to players who combined personal performances with collective titles?
One thing is certain: Mbappé has already chosen his candidate.
Himself.
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