A former France international has insisted Kylian Mbappe “will” win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, making the bold call even though the Real Madrid forward could end the current season without a major trophy.
The ex-France player believes Mbappe’s move to Madrid has put him on the right path to claim football’s most famous individual prize, arguing that it is only a matter of time before he is crowned the world’s best. The confident prediction was made despite the possibility that Mbappe’s first campaign at the Bernabeu may not deliver the silverware many expected.
Mbappe, who completed his long-awaited switch to Real Madrid after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, has been under intense scrutiny from the moment he arrived. Every performance has been judged through the lens of trophies, and the Ballon d’Or conversation has followed him through the season.
But the former France international is convinced the bigger picture favours the 25-year-old. In his view, Mbappe’s individual level, combined with Real Madrid’s ability to compete for the biggest honours year after year, makes him the standout candidate to take the award in 2026.
The claim comes at a time when Madrid’s season has not unfolded in flawless fashion, leaving open the prospect that Mbappe could finish the campaign empty-handed. Still, the ex-international’s message was clear: the Ballon d’Or is coming, and 2026 is the year he expects Mbappe to finally lift it.
