Mbappé makes Ballon d’Or case as individual achievement takes centre stage

Kylian Mbappé has said he believes he can win this year’s Ballon d’Or, arguing that the award should principally recognise exceptional individual performances.

In an interview with L’Équipe, quoted by Mundo Deportivo and reported by Yahoo Sports, the Real Madrid and France forward said he considered victory a realistic objective. He added that, based on the competition and his performances, winning would not be unfair.

Mbappé acknowledged that football’s collective nature remains relevant to the assessment of individual players. But he said the award should distinguish exceptional performers rather than simply reward ordinary success within a strong team.

He also praised a group of emerging players, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Estevão, as well as Real Madrid teammates Arda Güler and Endrick. He identified Warren Zaïre-Emery and Désiré Doué as players capable of having strong careers.

The forward said criticism from Real Madrid supporters, including being whistled at, did not affect him greatly. He said he understood fans expressing dissatisfaction and recognised that such scrutiny was part of playing for the club.

The interview also included discussion of José Mourinho and the challenge of playing for Paris Saint-Germain, although the supplied account ends before Mbappé’s comments on those subjects are completed.