This could be year I win Ballon d'Or, says Mbappe

What the report says

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said this may be a strong year for him to win the Ballon d’Or for the first time, according to BBC Sport Football. The 27-year-old made the remarks while reflecting on his own form and the individual award, which is voted on by journalists and will be presented on 26 October.

BBC Sport reports that Mbappe scored 42 goals in 44 club matches last season, although Real Madrid did not win a trophy. He has already started the current campaign strongly, with four goals in four games for the Spanish club. Mbappe also pointed to his long record in major competitions, including a World Cup Golden Boot and a career total of 22 World Cup goals, as reasons he could feature prominently in this year’s voting.

The France captain said that playing for Real Madrid naturally puts him in the conversation for the prize, but he stressed that voters will make their own judgement. He also noted that he has previously finished third in the Ballon d’Or standings, in 2023 when he was still at Paris St-Germain. BBC Sport added that bookmakers currently favour Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Rodri for the award.

More broadly, the report places Mbappe’s comments in the context of his prolific career and Real Madrid’s recent lack of major trophies. He remains the club’s key attacking figure, while the Ballon d’Or discussion reflects how individual honours are often shaped by both personal statistics and team success.