This Could Be My Year To Win Ballon d’Or — Mbappé

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé believes 2026 could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d’Or after a remarkable individual campaign.

The France captain scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid last season, although he ended the campaign without a major club trophy.

Mbappé’s individual achievements have nevertheless strengthened his case for the prestigious award, particularly his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 27-year-old won the tournament’s Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals for France and also took his career World Cup tally to a record 22 goals. France, however, finished fourth after failing to reach the final.

Speaking about his chances of winning the award, Mbappé acknowledged that the final decision would be determined by journalists voting for their preferred candidate.

“Of course this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or. But journalists vote,” he said.

Mbappé’s highest previous finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings was third in 2023, when he was still playing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite his confidence, the French forward said he was not overly concerned about the award and would rather focus on helping Real Madrid achieve success.

His comments come after a season in which Paris Saint-Germain continued to flourish following his departure, winning the Champions League for a second consecutive season.

Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid after leaving PSG, has scored 90 goals in 107 appearances for the Spanish giants but is yet to win a major club trophy with the team.

He dismissed suggestions that PSG’s success since his departure had affected him, saying he could not change what had happened and was focused on his own career.

The Ballon d’Or will be awarded on October 26, with Mbappé facing strong competition from several leading players.

England captain Harry Kane is among the leading contenders after a prolific season with Bayern Munich, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is also considered a serious candidate.

Mbappé remains confident in his own ability, saying he always considers himself the best player in the world while recognising that others may have different opinions.

For now, the Frenchman is concentrating on Real Madrid’s campaign and hopes his individual performances will ultimately be enough to secure the biggest individual prize of his career.