Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has confirmed he will not be present at this year’s Ballon d’Or gala, despite another prolific personal campaign. The French superstar scored 44 goals last season and topped the La Liga scoring charts in his debut year at the Santiago Bernabéu.
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However, speaking after Real Madrid’s 2–1 Champions League victory over Marseille, Mbappé explained that a lack of major trophies means he does not see himself as a realistic candidate for the Golden Ball.
“To win it, you have to win things, so I have to help my club win trophies, and after that, we’ll see,” Mbappé told CBS Sports.
“I will be happy if [Ousmane] Dembélé wins because he is my friend and I have supported him from the start. I will watch it on TV and hope that he wins it.”
Mbappes support comes at a time when Ousmane Dembele is widely regarded as the frontrunner for the award. The PSG forward delivered the best season of his career, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists as the French champions finally lifted the UEFA Champions League, completing a historic treble.
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While Barcelona stars Lamine Yamal and Raphinha also enjoyed stellar seasons during a domestic treble campaign, Dembélé’s European triumph with PSG has made him the favourite to succeed Lionel Messi as Ballon d’Or winner.
The only blemish for PSG came in the FIFA Club World Cup final, where Chelsea claimed a dominant 3–0 win.
Although Mbappé will not feature in this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, his early-season form suggests he could be a leading contender next year. With six goals in five matches across all competitions, the Real Madrid star has propelled his team to a perfect start in La Liga and the Champions League.
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Los Blancos now turn their attention to their next domestic fixture against Espanyol, where Mbappé will once again look to make the difference.