France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has expressed confidence that his individual performances could earn him the Ballon d’Or, as he continues his push for the prestigious award.
The 27-year-old finished as the top scorer in the World Cup, La Liga and Champions League last season, despite failing to win a major trophy with either club or country.
France were eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals, while Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
“They won’t announce a team in the envelope; they will announce a player,” Mbappe told RFI radio.
“The ability to perform individually and produce eye-catching moments, that’s what stands out to people for an award like this.
“I was top scorer in all the biggest competitions, and I think that this could be a good year for me, and I really feel it.”
Mbappe scored 25 goals in La Liga, 15 in the Champions League and 10 at the World Cup last season. His World Cup tally took his overall total in the competition to 22 goals, making him its all-time leading scorer.
However, he faces strong competition for the award, particularly from players who enjoyed significant team success with their clubs or national sides in 2026.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, Rodrigo Hernandez, captained Spain to the 2026 World Cup title.
Spain teammates Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres also won La Liga with Barcelona and lifted the World Cup, while Paris Saint-Germain forwards Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia won Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, meanwhile, helped the German club win the Bundesliga.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.
AFP
