Kylian Mbappe shares who he voted for in the 2026 Ballon d’Or and talks about a big problem with the award.
Kylian Mbappe recently shared who he thinks should win the 2026 Ballon d’Or and also talked about one thing he doesn’t like about the award. The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony will happen on October 26 in London, where the biggest football stars will compete for the prize.
Mbappe had an amazing World Cup with France this summer and is expected to be one of the top candidates for the Ballon d’Or this year. When asked who he would vote for, he didn’t hesitate to say himself. The shortlist of 30 players nominated for the award will be announced on September 8, and Mbappe is almost sure to be on it. He feels this might finally be his year to win the top individual football award.
“I believe I’m capable of winning it this year, and that’s why I’m still aiming for it,” Mbappe told Marca newspaper before a France Football interview this weekend. “Who will I vote for? Myself, plain and simple. But I respect others who vote differently. We’re not all supposed to think the same. When I look at the competition and my own performances, I think winning would be fair.”
Other favorites for the award include Mbappe’s France teammates Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, and England captain Harry Kane.
Mbappe scored 42 goals in 44 games for Real Madrid last season and won golden boot awards at both the World Cup and Champions League. So, it’s no surprise he feels confident backing himself for the Ballon d’Or.
However, there is one big hurdle — Mbappe didn’t win any trophies in the 2025/26 season. Real Madrid missed out on major trophies, and France didn’t reach the World Cup final. Still, Mbappe thinks this shouldn’t stop him, as he believes the award should focus more on individual performance than team trophies.
“It’s an individual award based on what the player has done personally,” Mbappe said. “People say I didn’t win titles, but no one ever won the Ballon d’Or with every single vote. There’s always someone who disagrees.”
He added, “Being the top scorer at the World Cup and beating great legends in the most important tournament is huge. And finishing major competitions as top scorer matters a lot. History should be recognized.”
Right now, Harry Kane is the favorite to win, which would make him the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001 and only the fifth ever. Last season with Bayern Munich, Kane won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and German Super Cup, scoring 61 goals in 51 games and earning the European Golden Shoe. He also scored six World Cup goals, helping England finish third—their best result since 1966.
So, as the award approaches, fans are excited to see who will take home the prestigious Ballon d’Or this year!