Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has declared himself a strong contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, saying he believes his performances this year have put him in a position to win the prestigious individual award.
The France captain made the remarks on Monday while speaking to journalists ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan.
Mbappé said he would vote for himself if he had a say in the Ballon d’Or voting, stressing that he believes he has produced the level of individual performance required to win the award.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable year, particularly at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he scored 10 goals to win the Golden Boot despite France finishing fourth. His goals also took his World Cup tally to 22, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
“Of course I made a lot of history this summer in the most important competition in sport,” Mbappé said, while acknowledging that voters would ultimately decide the winner.
He added that playing for Real Madrid naturally places players in the spotlight for major individual and collective honours.
Mbappé is competing against a strong field for this year’s award, with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and other leading stars also among the prominent contenders. The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.
The Real Madrid forward is yet to win the Ballon d’Or, having finished third in the 2023 voting behind Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. He will now hope his World Cup record and club performances are enough to secure the award for the first time.
