Mbappe says this could be the year he wins the Ballon d'Or
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has publicly declared that this year could be the one in which he finally wins the Ballon d'Or. The French superstar, who joined Los Blancos from Paris Saint-Germain, has long been considered one of the leading candidates for the prestigious individual award but has yet to claim it. His comments come as he continues to deliver strong performances at club level and with a major international tournament on the horizon, both factors that traditionally weigh heavily in Ballon d'Or voting. The statement adds fuel to what is already expected to be a closely watched individual race across European football.
Read the full story at bbc.co.ukMbappe openly talking up his Ballon d'Or chances is as much a statement of intent as it is a public pressure play. After years of being bracketed as a near-certainty only to see the award go to rivals, the Frenchman framing 2026 as 'his year' signals both self-belief and an awareness that his performances at Real Madrid will be judged alongside what could be a decisive summer with France. For Real Madrid, the narrative matters too: a Ballon d'Or winner wearing their shirt reinforces the club's gravitational pull, even if the voting process remains entirely outside their control.
Context added by Socc360, not by bbc.co.uk.
Data source: bbc.co.uk (via Socc360). Last updated .
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