Mbappé Eyes Ballon d'Or After Stellar Season with Madrid

Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid forward, has stated that 2026 could be the year he finally secures the Ballon d'Or, following a remarkable season where he scored 42 goals in 44 appearances and led La Liga with 25 goals. His performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was also notable, as he scored 10 goals, earning the Golden Boot and raising his career World Cup tally to 22 goals.

Mbappé acknowledged that playing for Real Madrid enhances his visibility in the Ballon d'Or conversation, stating, “When you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, it’s natural to be linked with these awards.” However, he faces challenges as Real Madrid did not win any major trophies during the season, which could affect voters' perceptions compared to rivals like Harry Kane, who scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich and helped secure a domestic double, and Lamine Yamal, who had a successful season with Barcelona and a World Cup win with Spain.