Kylian Mbappé has admitted that he could imagine ending his career without winning either the UEFA Champions League or the Ballon d’Or, insisting that individual and team honours are ultimately decided by what happens on the pitch.
Speaking to L’Équipe, the Real Madrid forward was asked whether he could retire without securing the two major prizes that have eluded him so far.
“Yes. It’s won on the pitch,” Mbappé replied.
The 27-year-old acknowledged that the Ballon d’Or is also influenced by voting, but stressed that his attention remains firmly on the present rather than worrying about what his trophy cabinet might look like at the end of his career.
“Well, the Ballon d’Or also depends on the votes. But let’s focus on present. For the Ballon d’Or, this year I have a great opportunity,”
he added.
Mbappé enters the current Ballon d’Or race after a remarkable individual campaign with Real Madrid. He finished the 2025/26 Champions League season as the competition’s top scorer with 15 goals and also enjoyed a prolific domestic campaign.
His Champions League exploits have also pushed him into elite company. Kylian Mbappé joins Champions League’s top five scorers, having reached 71 goals in the competition and moved level with Real Madrid legend Raúl. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema have scored more.
Softfootball reported that despite his impressive numbers, Mbappé remains without a Champions League winners’ medal and Ballon d’Or. Nevertheless, his comments underline a player focused less on unfinished business and more on proving himself through performances.
With another Champions League campaign underway and the Ballon d’Or race approaching its climax, Mbappé has another opportunity to turn his individual brilliance into the biggest prizes in football.
