A trophyless season could still bring Mbappe the top individual prize
Kylian Mbappe enters the Ballon d'Or ceremony as an underdog, relying on record-breaking goal tallies to overcome a season without team silverware.
By Giulia Donovan ·
For millions of football fans watching the upcoming ceremony in London, the outcome remains uncertain. Kylian Mbappe is not the favorite among bookmakers, yet he has built a compelling case for the Ballon d'Or based on individual performance rather than team success. The award carries no cash prize, but winning it significantly boosts a player's global status and market value. This year, the prize will be handed out on Monday, capping a 2025-26 season that ended without a single trophy for the French forward at either club or international level.
Mbappe's strongest argument rests on his historic performance at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive tournament, setting a new record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals in 22 matches. He now stands ahead of Lionel Messi, who has 21 goals, and Miroslav Klose, who has 16. Mbappe believes this achievement defines his candidacy, noting that overtaking legendary figures in the most important tournament in the sport is a standout accomplishment. When asked directly who he would vote for, he answered simply: myself.
His club statistics further support his bid. At Real Madrid, Mbappe scored 25 goals to become La Liga's top scorer and added 15 goals in the Champions League, where he also led the scoring charts. He argues that finishing as the leading goal scorer in all major competitions makes this a strong year for him. The former Paris Saint-Germain forward feels this individual dominance should be the primary metric for the award, even in the absence of a team trophy.
The main weakness in his campaign is the lack of silverware. Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, marking a second consecutive season without a major title. At the international level, France placed fourth at the World Cup, losing to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place match. Rival candidates have stronger resume. Lamine Yamal won both the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona, while Harry Kane of Bayern Munich secured three trophies, including the Bundesliga title.
Mbappe remains confident, stating that the award recognizes a specific player rather than a team. He emphasizes that individual brilliance and memorable moments are what define such honors. His manager, Jose Mourinho, has publicly backed him, pointing out that Mbappe made history this summer. Despite this support, historical trends pose a challenge. Every Ballon d'Or winner in the past decade had at least one trophy in their winning year. Recent winners like Ousmane Dembele and Rodri both lifted major trophies in their award years.
There is, however, a precedent for a winner without a major trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo won the award in 2013 for Real Madrid while finishing as league runners-up and failing to advance past the World Cup playoffs. He scored 66 goals that season, breaking Lionel Messi's four-year winning streak. This historical example suggests Mbappe still has a slim chance. After nine nominations and a third-place finish in 2023, many observers believe his moment for the top individual honor is long overdue.
