Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe has continued his push for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that he feels confident about his chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
This comes after Atletico Madrid claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano as they renewed their rivalry, with Dean Huijsen’s 52nd-minute dismissal proving the turning point in a fiercely contested La Liga derby
The 27-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign in front of goal, finishing as the top scorer in three of the biggest competitions of the season despite failing to lift a major trophy with either Real Madrid or France.
Mbappe scored 25 goals in La Liga, 15 in the Champions League and another 10 at the World Cup, establishing himself as one of the most prolific forwards in world football.
Speaking to RFI radio, the Real Madrid star highlighted the importance of individual performances when determining the Ballon d’Or winner.
They won’t announce a team in the envelope, they will announce a player,
Mbappe said.
The ability to perform individually and produce eye-catching moments, that’s what stands out to people for an award like this.
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.
Mbappe’s statistics provide a strong foundation for his argument. His 10 World Cup goals also took his career total in the competition to 22, making him the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.
However, his individual success has not been matched by major team honours during the period considered for the award.
France were eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals, while Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
That lack of silverware could prove significant as Mbappe faces competition from several players who combined individual performances with major team achievements during 2026.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres enjoyed success with Spain and Barcelona, winning La Liga and the World Cup. Paris Saint-Germain forwards Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also have strong claims after helping the French club win Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Harry Kane is another prominent contender after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.
The competition means Mbappe’s individual numbers will be weighed against the achievements of several other leading candidates when the final voting process is concluded.
The Frenchman, however, remains confident that his goalscoring record and performances across the season have given him a genuine opportunity to claim the award.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26, when the winner will be announced.
