Bold claim! Mbappe declares this could finally be HIS Ballon d'Or year
Kylian Mbappe has never lacked confidence, and now he has said the quiet part out loud: the Ballon d'Or is the target.
Details: The Real Madrid and France star declared he feels this could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d'Or, pointing to the history he made at this summer's World Cup. Mbappe finished the tournament as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history and claimed a second Golden Boot, even as France fell 2-0 to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals and lost the bronze match to England.
The case is genuinely fascinating. Mbappe's individual tournament was historic, yet voters traditionally reward silverware, and Real Madrid ended last season without a major trophy while France came up short when it mattered. Standing in his way are Lamine Yamal, who inspired Spain's triumph at just 19, and Lionel Messi, who dragged Argentina to the final in what became his international farewell at 39. Mbappe's own manager Jose Mourinho has backed him publicly, insisting the award should honor the best player in the world rather than team medals. The 27 year old has never won it, finishing third in 2023 after his final hat trick, and this candid admission tells you exactly how much the golden ball still obsesses him.
It's worth noting that Mbappe admitted after the bronze match that he would trade the World Cup scoring record for a place in the final, a hint of how bittersweet his historic summer really was.
Reminder: Real Madrid fans suspect Mbappe may have left Spain before the match.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
