No trophies, no problem: Mbappé says individual brilliance alone should win him Ballon d’Or and will vote for himself

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) walks off the field during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kylian Mbappé has made it clear that he has no intention of reducing his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.The Real Madrid striker believes his individual achievements give him a real chance of winning the prestigious award, despite a lack of first-team silverware during the season in question.And when asked who he would vote for, Mbappé answered with typical confidence.

Mbappé insists he would vote for himself

Mbappé’s comments appeared in a preview interview with France Football, with the full interview due to be broadcast in the coming period.talk to Mark hours before the 30 nominees for the 70th edition of the prize were announced, Mbappé said he still considered himself a serious contender.“I feel that I am capable of winning it this year and that’s why I haven’t given up on that goal,” said the French international.Mbappé has described the Ballon d’Or as one of his main short-term goals, basing much of his argument on the fact that it is an individual award.“It’s an individual award and it’s considered what a player has produced at an individual level,” he said.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Malaga in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

The forward also responded to criticism that his candidacy should be weakened by a lack of collegiate honors.“People say I haven’t won titles, but I’ve never seen a unanimous Ballon d’Or awarded to a player who has achieved everything every time,” said Mbappé.“I don’t know if there’s ever been a player who won it with 100% of the vote, and that means there’s always going to be someone who feels like they didn’t deserve it.”When the conversation turned to his own ballot, there was no hesitation.“Who will I vote for? Me alone.”Mbappé immediately acknowledged that other voters had the right to come to a different conclusion.“But I understand those who vote differently, we are not in a dictatorship of thought,” he added.“When I look at the arguments and when I look at the competition, I think that my winning the award would not be a steal.”

Mbappé points to his World Cup record

The strongest point in Mbappé’s case is the individual record he produced at the World Cup.He finished the tournament as its top scorer and won the Golden Boot, giving him a major achievement to add to his goalscoring figures.“Becoming the top scorer of all time at the World Cup and surpassing all the great legends of the sport in history in the most important tournament that exists is something that attracts attention, a global event,” said Mbappé.He also argued that finishing as the top scorer in the biggest competitions should carry significant weight when deciding the award.“Finishing the majors as top scorer with the best players in the world is important,” he said. “History must always be rewarded.”However, Mbappé’s candidacy has an obvious complication.Real Madrid ended the season without any major silverware, while France also failed to lift the World Cup. Mbappé’s impressive individual achievements thus rival the traditional factor of the Ballon d’Or race: what the player has actually won with his team.The award evaluation period runs until July 19, the day Spain were crowned World Cup winners against Argentina.Spanish midfielder Rodri was named the best player of the tournament, making him one of Mbappé’s most prominent rivals in the competition.France Football is set to announce the 30 nominees for the 70th Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.There is no clear runaway favorite this year, which is exactly why Mbappé believes his individual record deserves to put him in the conversation.He knows the absence of major titles will work against him.But if the question is whether Mbappé believes he belongs in the race, his answer could hardly be clearer.He would vote for himself.