Kylian Mbappé Expresses Confidence in Winning First Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé stated on Monday that 2026 could be a favorable year for him to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League match against Inter Milan, the 27 year old French attacker cited his performance in the World Cup as a primary reason for his candidacy. Mbappé became the all time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals, including 10 goals scored in the most recent tournament. He noted that playing for Real Madrid, which he described as the best club in the world, naturally associates a player with such individual awards. When asked if he considers himself the best player in the world, Mbappé replied that he always does, though he acknowledged that the final decision rests with the voters and their personal opinions. While center leaning reports focused on his confidence and historical records, a center left report highlighted his admission that he and his teammates need to improve their defensive contributions. Additionally, the center left report mentioned comments from manager Jose Mourinho, who suggested that Mbappé deserved the award based on his individual history. Other reports noted that while Mbappé has achieved significant personal milestones, he has yet to win a major trophy during his time at Real Madrid. He also addressed the recent success of his former club, Paris Saint Germain, stating that he does not care about their achievements since his departure.