Kylian Mbappe has launched a vigorous campaign to secure the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite finishing the 2025-26 season without a single trophy for his club or country. Although he lacks silverware, the Real Madrid talisman believes his record-breaking individual form justifies his candidacy for football’s most prestigious individual award, which will be announced at Monday’s ceremony in London. But Kylian Mbappe has left no stone unturned in his media push to win the upcoming Ballon d’Or, he may not be the bookmakers’ favourite or last season’s top goalscorer. However, the France captain set records, which he hopes will finally land him the coveted award that carries no cash prize but, alongside the accolade, increases a player’s worth and status, on an individual note. But how does his performance compare with other shortlisted nominees. Though, those differences do not seem to bother Mbappe.
Reflecting on his historic year, Mbappe highlighted his achievement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer, earning the Golden Boot for the second consecutive time. Most significantly, he set a new record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, currently boasting 22 goals in 22 matches. This feat places him ahead of Argentine icon Lionel Messi, who has 21, and German legend Miroslav Klose, who retired with 16.
Mbappe’s individual brilliance extended to his domestic and continental campaign with Real Madrid. He concluded the season as the leading scorer in La Liga with 25 goals and topped the Champions League scoring charts with 15 goals. “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,” the former PSG forward remarked. Scoring 66 goals for club and country, in a season when Portugal failed to progress beyond the 2012 World Cup playoffs and Real were the league’s runners-up, the forward earned the award purely for his individual brilliance.
However, the forward faces a significant hurdle regarding the lack of collective success.
Real Madrid, struggling under managers Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, finished as league runners-up and suffered a quarterfinal exit in the Champions League.
Similarly, France failed to secure a title, finishing fourth at the World Cup following a semifinal loss to Spain and a subsequent defeat to England in the third-place playoff. This stands in stark contrast to his primary rivals, such as Lamine Yamal, who achieved a domestic and international double, and Harry Kane, who claimed three trophies with Bayern Munich. “The ability to perform individually and produce eye-catching moments – that’s what stands out to people for an award like this.”.
The player remains unfazed by the skepticism surrounding his trophyless season. “They won’t announce a team in the envelope; they will announce a player,” Mbappe stated during a radio interview, emphasizing that the jury should prioritize individual influence over team accolades. His club manager, Jose Mourinho, has publicly backed the French captain, suggesting his impact this summer outweighed those of players from less storied campaigns. His club manager, Jose Mourinho, has also backed the 2018 World Cup winner, while Mbappe’s self-promotion has been rampant in recent months.
Historically, the Ballon d’Or criteria have heavily favored trophy winners. Every recipient over the last decade boasted at least one major title during their winning year, including 2025 winner Ousmane Dembele and 2024 recipient Rodri. Nevertheless, there is a precedent for Mbappe’s case: in 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo won the award while also enduring a trophyless season with Real Madrid. Ronaldo claimed the honor based on his exceptional individual output of 66 goals across all competitions. The 2025 winner, enjoyed a trophy haul that included leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title, while Spain’s midfield maestro Rodri won the Euro 2024 with Spain and the Premier League with Manchester City among his accolades when he was named the Ballon d’Or winner two years ago, ousmane Dembele. He still has a slim chance, ronaldo’s 2013 triumph proves that while odds are not in Mbappe’s favour.
For Mbappe, who has been nominated nine times and secured a third-place finish in 2023, the desire to win the trophy is intense. While his self-promotion has drawn attention, he maintains that his individual contributions to the game represent the highest standard of excellence for the current voting cycle. Many would argue that Mbappe’s moment to kiss the coveted Ballon d’Or trophy is long overdue, after nine nominations and a third-place finish in 2023.
