Courtois Backs Mbappé for Ballon d’Or, Cites Lack of Trophies as Major Hurdle

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has backed Kylian Mbappé to win the Ballon d’Or, insisting that the French forward was the best individual performer of the year despite his lack of major trophies.

Courtois made the remarks during an interview with DAZN on Wednesday, acknowledging that the absence of silverware could weaken Mbappé’s chances of winning football’s most prestigious individual award.

“Individually, no player was better than him this year, but sadly, we didn’t win any trophies,” the Belgian goalkeeper said.

The Real Madrid shot-stopper also compared Mbappé’s performances with those of Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, suggesting that the Spanish winger’s team achievements could give him an advantage in the race.

Courtois pointed to Yamal’s success in winning trophies with Barcelona, contrasting it with Mbappé’s campaign.

“Lamine Yamal had a worse World Cup than Mbappé, but he won the title and won the league,” he added.

The goalkeeper’s comments have reignited the debate over whether individual brilliance or collective success should carry greater weight in determining the Ballon d’Or winner.

Mbappé remains one of the leading figures in world football, with his performances continuing to attract attention despite the challenges facing his team in the pursuit of major honours.

Meanwhile, Yamal has continued to establish himself as one of football’s most exciting young talents through his performances for Barcelona and Spain.

The Ballon d’Or recognises the outstanding footballer of the year, with individual performances, achievements and overall impact contributing to the discussion surrounding the award.

Courtois’ endorsement highlights the growing debate over the relative importance of individual statistics and team trophies as the competition for the prestigious honour intensifies.