Mbappe speaks out on Ballon d’Or, responds to comparisons with Dembele and Raphinha

Kylian Mbappe believes 2026 could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d’Or, even though his time at Real Madrid has yet to produce a major team trophy.

Speaking before Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Inter Milan at the Bernabeu, the France striker said the club’s status naturally places its players in the conversation for the biggest individual awards. “I think that when a player plays for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people naturally associate you with awards like that, such as the Ballon d’Or,” Mbappe said.

He added that people frequently mention the award when they meet him. Mbappe also accepted that winning the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot gives him a significant advantage, while stressing that the final decision belongs to the voters.

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I think that when a player plays for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people naturally associate you with awards like that, such as the Ballon d’Or.

Since joining Real Madrid in 2024, Mbappe has continued to score heavily, but the club has not won a major title with him. That has prompted questions about the balance of a forward line that also includes Vinicius Junior. Former coach Jose Mourinho has said Mbappe should contribute more to the team’s pursuit of trophies, rather than focus only on scoring.

Mbappe said he would accept scoring fewer goals if it helped Real Madrid win a title, but rejected the idea that the two ambitions conflict. “I would choose 30 goals and a trophy. For me, this is a meaningless debate. I always want to score goals and win trophies. You do not have to choose one when you can do both,” he said. He was also asked about comparisons with Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha, who are praised for their wider contributions as well as their goalscoring.

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I would choose 30 goals and a trophy. For me, this is a meaningless debate. I always want to score goals and win trophies. You do not have to choose one when you can do both.