Kylian Mbappe avoids Ballon d’Or bragging rights battle with classy response to Lamine Yamal

Kylian Mbappe has responded to Lamine Yamal’s bold Ballon d’Or claim by praising the Barcelona teenager while making it clear he would rather let his performances speak for him.

Yamal recently backed himself to win the 2026 prizenamed Mbappe as his main rival. In an interview with AS, Mbappe was asked about the teenager and his own chances of winning the prestigious individual award.

“I think he is a very talented player and I feel he will have a great career. I wish him all the best,” said Mbappe.

Instead of engaging in a direct exchange with Yamal, Mbappe kept his reaction measured and focused on his own performances.

“My opinion is that this is a good year to win it. My best lawyer is my legs. No matter how much I talk,” said Mbappe. He also said he wants the award to return to Real Madrid and the Bernabeu.

The response comes with the Ballon d’Or debate entering its final stages, with the 30-man shortlist already confirmed and voting underway.

MBAPPE NUMBERS ARE THE CASE

Mbappe’s individual numbers provide a solid basis for his claim. He scored 42 goals and provided seven assists for Real Madrid in 2025–26, including 25 goals in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League. He then scored 10 times at the 2026 World Cup and won the Golden Boot.

His biggest drawback is his lack of major team silverware. Real Madrid failed to win a major trophy last season, while France were knocked out by Spain in the World Cup semi-finals. Meanwhile, Yamal helped Barcelona retain La Liga and Spain win the World Cup.

Yamal finished the club season with 24 goals and 17 assists, giving Barcelona 41 goals. He also led La Liga players in assists and chances created across all competitions.

Crucially, the Ballon d’Or does not consider their impressive starts in 2026-27. The official evaluation period ran from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, covering the entire 2025–2026 season and the World Cup. Individual performance is the first criterion, followed by team achievements and fair play.

KANE, DEMBELE ALSO IN THE MIX

The race is wider than the Mbappe-Yamal conversation. Harry Kane, defending champions Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Achraf Hakimi, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi are among the other 30 nominees.

Kane’s individual numbers stand out, with the Bayern Munich forward scoring 61 goals in 51 games in all competitions in 2025-26. Dembele, meanwhile, returns as the defending Ballon d’Or winner following his triumph in 2025.

With performance-based voting already completed, neither Mbappe nor Yamal can now change their cases for 2026. The winner will be announced in London on October 26.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

18 Sep 2026 10:55 IST