Mbappé Confident of Ballon d’Or Chance After Record-Breaking Season

France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has expressed confidence that he can win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after a season in which he finished as the leading scorer at the World Cup, La Liga and the Champions League.

Mbappé, 27, said he believes his individual performances could work in his favour when the prestigious award is decided, despite failing to win a major trophy with either France or Real Madrid during the season.

“They won’t announce a team in the envelope; they will announce a player,” Mbappé told RFI.

“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.”

The French forward scored 25 goals in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League for Real Madrid last season before adding 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup.

His World Cup tally took him to 22 goals in the competition overall, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, according to the figures cited in the report.

However, Mbappé’s season did not end with major silverware. 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.

He faces competition from several players whose teams won major trophies during the year.

Spain midfielder Rodri, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, captained Spain to the 2026 World Cup title. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres won La Liga and the World Cup, while Paris Saint-Germain forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia won Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is also among the players highlighted after helping the German club win the Bundesliga.

Mbappé has previously made clear his desire to see the Ballon d’Or return to Real Madrid. Speaking to Diario AS earlier this month, he said he hoped the individual award would make its way back to the Santiago Bernabéu.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, when the final vote will determine the winner.