Kylian Mbappé believes he has a real chance of winning the Ballon d’Or in 2026 after what has been a huge year for him. The Real Madrid forward enjoyed another strong season at club level and then made history at the World Cup 2026, where he became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. He scored 10 goals in eight games and finished as the Golden Boot winner. With the Ballon d’Or ceremony coming up in October, Mbappé knows his performances have put him firmly in the conversation.
Mbappé was asked about his chances during a press conference and made it clear that he feels this could finally be his year. “I feel like this year could be the year where I win the Ballon d’Or. I have made a lot of history this summer in the most important competition, the World Cup.” He also explained why playing for Real Madrid naturally brings Ballon d’Or attention, “I think that when you play for Real – the best club in the world – people naturally associate you with this sort of honour, whether team or individual.” He added, “It’s true that I made a lot of history this summer in the sport’s most important competition. We’ll see. I have a feeling it’s a good year for that.”
José Mourinho faces big decision over Kylian Mbappé after Real Madrid defeat
José Mourinho now has a big job on his hands with Kylian Mbappé. Real Madrid suffered their first LaLiga defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Real Betis, and Mbappé had a night to forget. He missed several chances and then saw his late penalty saved, leaving Madrid without a goal despite creating plenty of opportunities.
The result has raised questions about whether Mourinho should give Mbappé a break and give Carlos Espi a chance to start. Espi has looked lively when he has come on and could offer something different up front. Endrick is also another option for Mourinho. The manager has already shown that he wants his team to play as a unit, so Mbappé cannot simply rely on his name to keep his place. After the Betis defeat, the pressure is now on the Frenchman to respond in the next game and show why he remains Madrid’s main attacking star.
