Real Madrid’s Mbappe confident of Ballon d’Or despite trophyless season

What the report says

Kylian Mbappe said he remains confident he can win the Ballon d’Or even after a season without team trophies at Real Madrid, according to an interview published by France Football and reported by Al Jazeera on 12 September 2026. The France forward argued that the award recognizes individual performance, not just titles, and said his scoring record this year supports his case.

Mbappe pointed to his goals for Real Madrid and France as the basis for his claim. Al Jazeera reported that he scored 15 times in the Champions League and 25 in La Liga before adding to his World Cup tally, becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. France’s run ended with a semifinal loss to Spain, but Mbappe said the scale of his accomplishments, especially at the World Cup, made him feel he had done enough to merit consideration.

He also contrasted the Ballon d’Or with team honors, saying the award has never been decided unanimously. In the interview, he framed the prize as one reserved for exceptional players, a standard he believes he met this season. The comments add to the ongoing debate over how much individual output versus collective success should influence football’s top individual awards.

Mbappe also praised France’s new coach, Zinedine Zidane, describing him as a national icon and a figure who symbolizes French football across generations.