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17 Sep 2026 | 17.00
Last update on Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappé, 27-year-old forward, believes that 2026 is a good time to win the Ballon d'Or and cites his performances as his main argument. In his interview with José Félix Díaz from AS, he also expresses his desire for the award to return to Real Madrid and acknowledges Lamine Yamal as one of his main rivals.
Kylian Mbappé relies on his numbers for the Ballon d'Or
Mbappé does not present his candidacy through a direct comparison with other players. His argument is based on performance: in the 2025/26 season, he scored 42 goals in 44 matches with Real Madrid and once again finished as LaLiga's top scorer with 25 goals.
The Frenchman also enters the discussion having delivered a 2026 World Cup with 10 goals and 4 assists, a feat that earned him the tournament's Golden Boot for the second time. However, Rodri claimed the World Cup Ballon d'Or, while Mbappé finished third in that vote.
In the interview, his stance is clear: he believes that this year he has grounds to win the Ballon d'Or, but he understands that his performances must support any claim. The forward also shifts the individual focus to the club, advocating for the trophy to return to the Bernabéu.
The connection with Real Madrid is central to his discourse. Mbappé desires the award to return to the club and its fans, a reference that links his individual candidacy with the institution he has been playing for since 2024.
Lamine Yamal emerges as a direct rival to Mbappé
The mention of Lamine Yamal in Mbappé's speech is significant as the Barcelona forward has also publicly defended his candidacy. The Spaniard argues that he and Mbappé are the two best players in the world and claims he deserves the Ballon d'Or for the titles he has won.
Mbappé refrains from engaging in a statistical comparison with Yamal and simply highlights his talent and potential. The Frenchman predicts a promising career for him but does not alter his own award candidacy due to this.
The distinction between their arguments also lies in collective achievements. Yamal won LaLiga 2025/26 with Barcelona and the 2026 World Cup with Spain, while Mbappé was the individual top scorer in the world with his 10 goals, but France did not win the tournament.
Real Madrid awaits the Ballon d'Or on October 26th
The race for the Ballon d'Or is now in its final stretch. The ceremony is set to take place in London on October 26th, with 30 nominated players, including Mbappé, Yamal, Rodri, Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, and Fabián Ruiz.
Therefore, Kylian Mbappé's case will be closely tied to a specific combination: his 42 goals with Real Madrid, his 10 goals in the World Cup, and the weight of his performances during the evaluated period. The vote will determine if this performance brings the Ballon d'Or back to the White House on October 26th.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El argumento de Mbappé para ganar el Balón de Oro