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14h ago

Mbappé Casts Himself as Front-Runner for Ballon d'Or After World Cup Record

His 10-goal World Cup haul plus public praise from figures such as José Mourinho have pushed expectations toward a PSG-linked winner this year.

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Overview

  • Kylian Mbappé has said it “could be a good year” for him to win the Ballon d'Or as he presses his case at Real Madrid following his World Cup form.
  • Mbappé scored 10 goals at the FIFA World Cup and became the competition’s all-time top scorer with 22 tournament goals, a performance that strengthens his profile with voters.
  • Real Madrid coach José Mourinho praised players who “made individual history this summer,” a comment widely read as an implicit endorsement of Mbappé’s candidacy.
  • 2025 winner Ousmane Dembélé told France Football that his personal top three for 2026 are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane and Mbappé, and he predicted the prize could return to a PSG player.
  • Dembélé excluded Lamine Yamal from his top three while still naming her among viable contenders, and he confirmed he would not vote for himself, highlighting how peer endorsements and club ties are shaping the early Ballon d'Or conversation.