Mbappe targets Ballon d'Or with record World Cup goals despite trophyless season

The annual Ballon d'Or ceremony in London typically rewards players who have lifted a major trophy during the eligibility period. This year, however, one of the top contenders went the entire season without winning a single piece of silverware at either the club or international level.

Kylian Mbappe is pushing for the award based on individual statistical milestones rather than team success. The 2025-26 season, which is under consideration for the prize, saw the France forward fail to secure a title with Real Madrid or the national team. Despite this lack of hardware, he believes his performance metrics are sufficient to claim the honor.

Mbappe’s primary argument rests on his performance at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive tournament and surpassed previous records to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. He finished with 22 goals in 22 matches, edging out Lionel Messi, who has 21, and Miroslav Klose, who has 16.

The forward emphasized the magnitude of breaking the all-time scoring record. "Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends in the history of the sport in the most important tournament there is, is something that really stands out," Mbappe said. When asked about his voting intention, he answered simply: "Myself."

His club statistics also support his case. Mbappe finished as the top scorer in La Liga with 25 goals and led the Champions League scoring charts with 15. He noted, "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."

The main weakness in his bid is the absence of team trophies. Real Madrid had a difficult season under managers Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, finishing second in La Liga and exiting the Champions League in the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich. This marked the second consecutive season without a major title for the Spanish club. At the World Cup, France finished fourth, losing to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place playoff.

Rival candidates had more successful team seasons. Lamine Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich won three trophies, including the Bundesliga title. Mbappe argues that the award should focus on individual brilliance rather than team results. "They won't announce a team in the envelope; they will announce a player," he told RFI radio.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has publicly backed his player's chances. "We know who has made history this summer, and he's not from PSG or the Spanish national team," Mourinho said. However, historical precedent suggests that individual records rarely outweigh major team trophies in this specific award.

In the last ten years, every Ballon d'Or winner had lifted at least one major trophy during the award year. Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 prize after helping Paris Saint-Germain secure their first Champions League title. Rodri won the 2024 award after claiming Euro 2024 with Spain and the Premier League with Manchester City.

The most recent example of a winner without a major trophy is Cristiano Ronaldo, who won in 2013. That season, Ronaldo scored 66 goals for club and country, but Portugal failed to qualify for the World Cup finals and Real Madrid finished second in La Liga. Mbappe, who has been nominated nine times and finished third in 2023, is seeking to replicate that rare outcome.