The winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or will be announced at a ceremony in London at the end of October, with Kylian Mbappe’s individual record making him a leading contender for the award.
The Real Madrid forward was the top scorer in Spain’s top flight last season, scoring 25 goals, including eight penalties. He also finished as the Champions League’s leading scorer after finding the net 15 times, three of those goals coming from the penalty spot.
Those numbers were not matched by team success. Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They therefore failed to win either competition.
Mbappe continued his outstanding personal form with France at the 2026 World Cup during the summer. He contributed 14 goals and assists, scoring 10 times and setting up four goals, and finished as the tournament’s leading scorer.
It was the second consecutive World Cup at which Mbappe had won the Golden Boot. At the age of 27, he has scored 22 goals in World Cup matches, the highest total in the competition’s history. The players closest to him have already ended their international careers, while Mbappe is likely to feature at at least two more major tournaments and could extend that record significantly.
However, his goals again did not result in international silverware. France failed to win a medal after losing to England in the match for third place.
Mbappe makes his ambitions clear
Mbappe has compared his current level with the period when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo competed for the Ballon d’Or. The France forward has spoken openly about that ambition in interviews with international media, including France Football, the publication responsible for awarding the prize.
“I became the top scorer in all the biggest tournaments, and I think this year could turn out well for me. I have a good feeling,” Mbappe said.
His willingness to discuss the award has ensured he remains at the centre of media attention. Such an approach might once have been unusual, but the decision will ultimately be made by journalists, making visibility an important part of the contest.
Mbappe arrives at the ceremony with a rare collection of individual honours. He was the leading scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup during the same period.
The absence of team trophies with both Real Madrid and France could nevertheless count against him. Mbappe has made no secret of his desire to win the Ballon d’Or and has drawn comparisons with the era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo.
The outcome will be decided in London at the end of October, when the jury must determine whether exceptional individual statistics or team success should carry greater weight.