Kylian Mbappé Eyes First Ballon d'Or After Historic World

Kylian Mbappé has openly stated this could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d’Or. The Real Madrid forward made his case on Monday, September 8, 2026, pointing to his historic 10-goal World Cup campaign and his prolific club form as key reasons he should claim football's top individual prize.

Mbappé Makes His Case for the Ballon d'Or

Speaking ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League opener, Mbappé connected his club and country achievements. "I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award," he said. He scored 42 goals in 44 matches for Madrid last season and became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals across three tournaments this summer. The Frenchman acknowledged the competition, name-checking rivals like Harry Kane, but remained confident. "I always think I'm the best," Mbappé stated, adding, "Maybe it's a good year for this." The award will be presented in London on October 26.

Defending His Role in Mourinho's Madrid

The Ballon d'Or comments came as Mbappé also launched a strong defence of his playing style. After a 1-0 LaLiga loss to Real Betis on Friday where he missed a late penalty, questions were raised about the defensive work rate of Madrid's star forwards. Mbappé pushed back, arguing the responsibility is collective. "Everyone at Real Madrid has to improve in this area, to concede fewer chances," he said. He pointed out that he and teammate Vinícius Júnior offer immense attacking output that others do not.

A New Era Under Mourinho Begins

Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid has started perfectly. His team has won its first three league matches, scoring 10 goals. Mourinho has specifically praised Mbappé, calling him "hungry to make history" after his summer exploits. The manager has also reshaped roles, telling Jude Bellingham to focus less on defence and more on attack. Mbappé appreciates the Special One's impact. "What Mourinho has is that he’s a guy who knows how to win and how to bring a group together," Mbappé said. This new dynamic will face a major test immediately as Madrid host Inter Milan in their Champions League group stage opener on Tuesday, September 9.

How Mbappé's Milestone Compares to Other Stars

While Mbappé chases individual awards, his career trajectory is often measured against other modern greats. A recent comparison highlighted how quickly prodigies reach 50 career goals for their club. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona just hit that mark at 19, joining an elite group. The fastest to 50 goals among recent stars was Erling Haaland, who did it in just 78 games at age 19. Neymar was even younger, reaching 50 at 18. This context shows the incredible standard Mbappé is judged against as he enters his prime years at 27.

• Mbappé scored 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot and breaking the all-time tournament scoring record.
• He believes playing for Real Madrid strengthens his Ballon d'Or candidacy, with the award ceremony set for October 26.
• New manager Jose Mourinho has won all three of his opening LaLiga games, with Mbappé netting a hat-trick against Real Sociedad.
• Madrid's next challenge is a Champions League group stage match against Inter Milan on September 9.