Kylian Mbappe has produced a compelling case for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, even if his trophy cabinet does not quite match those of some of his biggest rivals. The Frenchman has been sensational for both Real Madrid and France, producing elite numbers at club level before taking his game to another level at the 2026 World Cup.
For us, that makes him the standout candidate for the individual prize.
Mbappe's Outstanding 2025/26 Season
Mbappe's first season at Real Madrid was already excellent. His second has been even better.
The Frenchman scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid, finishing as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and winning the Pichichi Trophy. He also finished as the Champions League's top scorer, scoring an extraordinary 15 goals in 11 appearances.
The Champions League numbers are particularly remarkable. Mbappe scored 13 times in just seven league-phase matches, including a hat-trick against Kairat Almaty and four goals against Olympiacos. He then scored in both quarter-final meetings with Bayern Munich.
His La Liga campaign produced 25 goals and five assists in 31 appearances, while his Champions League tally was 15 goals and one assist in 11 matches.
Those numbers tell only part of the story. Mbappe was Real Madrid's primary attacking threat for much of the campaign and repeatedly delivered when the team needed individual brilliance.
Mbappe's World Cup Makes His Case Even Stronger
If his club season alone made him a Ballon d'Or contender, his World Cup campaign arguably pushed him to the front of the queue.
Mbappe scored 10 goals and provided four assists in eight World Cup appearances, finishing as the tournament's leading scorer.
Those are extraordinary numbers for an international tournament. More importantly, Mbappe was consistently involved in France's attacking play throughout their campaign.
There was one notable exception: the defeat to Spain. Outside of that game, however, Mbappe was absolutely phenomenal for France, repeatedly looking like the player most capable of changing a match.
And that distinction matters when comparing him with the other major Ballon d'Or contenders.
Kane and Yamal Have the Trophies, But...
Harry Kane's numbers for Bayern Munich are arguably even more impressive than Mbappe's. The England captain scored 61 goals and provided seven assists in 51 appearances, including 36 Bundesliga goals and 14 Champions League goals. He also won three trophies with Bayern.
However, there is an important contextual point. The Bundesliga is generally an easier league to score in than La Liga, so comparing Kane's 36 league goals directly with Mbappe's 25 does not tell the entire story.
Then there is Lamine Yamal, who helped Barcelona win La Liga and produced 16 goals and 11 assists in the competition. He was named La Liga's Player of the Season.
Yamal also won the World Cup with Spain. Yet, individually, he did not stand out for his country in the same way Mbappe did for France.
That is ultimately what separates Mbappe for us.
Why Mbappe Is Our Ballon d'Or Pick
There is no denying that Mbappe falls short of Kane and Yamal when it comes to silverware. But the Ballon d'Or is an individual award, not simply a prize for the player who collected the most trophies.
If the question is: Who was the best individual footballer across the season? Mbappe has an extremely strong argument.
He was phenomenal for Real Madrid, producing 42 goals and finishing as both La Liga and Champions League top scorer. Then he went to the World Cup and scored 10 goals with four assists.
Kane's club numbers are unbelievable, while Yamal has the stronger trophy haul. But Mbappe is the only one of the three who, in our view, was absolutely sensational for both club and country.
And that is why Kylian Mbappe is our personal choice for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
It is an incredibly close race, but when the award is about individual excellence rather than simply counting medals, Mbappe edges it for us.
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