Mbappe seeks individual glory after trophyless season

Kylian Mbappe holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history, having netted 22 times in 22 matches during the 2026 tournament in North America. This statistic sits at the center of his campaign for the Ballon d'Or, a prestigious individual award that will be presented at a ceremony in London this Monday. Although the prize does not come with a cash payout, it significantly elevates a player's status and market value in the global game.

The 2025-26 season that the award covers ended without Mbappe winning a single trophy at either the club or international level. Instead of relying on team success, he is leaning on a series of individual records to make his case for the honor. His most compelling argument is his performance at the World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive tournament. He surpassed Lionel Messi, who has 21 goals, and Miroslav Klose, who has 16, to become the all-time leader in the competition's scoring charts.

Mbappe has been vocal about his confidence in his bid. Last month, he stated that overtaking legendary players in the sport's most important tournament is a standout achievement. When asked who he would vote for, he simply replied, "Myself." His form at the club level was equally impressive, as he finished as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals. He also led the scoring charts in the Champions League with 15 goals, reinforcing his claim that he was the top scorer in all the major competitions.

However, the lack of silverware remains a significant weakness in his argument. Real Madrid endured a turbulent campaign, switching managers from Xabi Alonso to Alvaro Arbeloa during the year. The club finished second in La Liga and were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. This result marked their second consecutive season without a major trophy. On the international stage, France finished fourth at the World Cup, losing to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place playoff.

Other contenders have stronger claims based on team success. Lamine Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and the La Liga title with Barcelona. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich collected three trophies last term, including the Bundesliga championship. Despite this, Mbappe appears unfazed by the competition. He told the radio station RFI that the award goes to a player, not a team, and that individual performance and memorable moments are what matter most for such a prize.

His current manager, Jose Mourinho, has publicly backed the forward. Mourinho noted that everyone knows who made history this summer and emphasized that the player in question is not from PSG or the Spanish national team. This support adds weight to Mbappe's position, even as historical trends suggest a different outcome.

Over the past decade, every Ballon d'Or winner has lifted at least one trophy in the year they were honored. Ousmane Dembele won in 2025 after helping PSG secure their first Champions League title. Rodri won two years ago after winning Euro 2024 with Spain and the Premier League with Manchester City. The precedent for a winner without a major trophy is rare, with the last occurrence being Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013.

Ronaldo won his second Ballon d'Or that year, breaking a four-year streak held by Messi. He scored 66 goals for club and country, even though Portugal failed to qualify for the 2012 World Cup and Real Madrid finished as league runners-up. This historical example suggests that Mbappe still has a slim chance of winning. After nine nominations and a third-place finish in 2023, many observers believe his moment may finally be arriving.