Will Mbappe succeed in his relentless media push to win the Ballon d'Or?

Kylian Mbappé is stepping up a major media push for the Ballon d’Or, aiming to win the award first time despite a trophy-less 2025-26 season. The France captain, who also sits as the top goal scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals in as many matches, says he is the contender he’s voting for—adding, “Who am I voting for? Myself.” In the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, he won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive campaign, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi (21) and Miroslav Klose (16). At club level with Real Madrid, he scored 25 in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League. Yet Real and France both finished without major silverware last season, weakening the case compared with rivals including Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane.