Kylian Mbappé declared himself the most deserving candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, asserting that no player produced a better individual season than him, before sparking controversy by claiming Ousmane Dembélé only became a true superstar after Mbappé left Paris Saint-Germain.
The Real Madrid forward made his statements during an extensive interview with L’Équipe and France Football, reflecting on his technical evolution, last season’s stats, his relationship with criticism, his time in Paris, and his prospects of winning football’s top individual honor.
The French national team captain believes his lack of collective silverware with Real Madrid does not diminish his individual accomplishments—especially after finishing as the top scorer in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, followed by breaking the all-time World Cup scoring record.
Mbappé Declares Himself Top Candidate for the Ballon d’Or
Mbappé confirmed that winning the Ballon d’Or remains an immediate objective, entering the upcoming edition convinced he possesses the strongest argument to claim the award for the first time in his career.
Refusing to reduce the award to team trophies, the Frenchman noted that while football is a team sport, the Ballon d’Or remains an individual accolade that should reward the player capable of producing what others cannot replicate.
Mbappé summarized his stance directly: “Nobody had a better season than me last year.”
The 27-year-old scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid during the 2025–2026 season, including 25 goals to secure the La Liga top-scorer title and 15 goals to top the Champions League scoring charts for the first time.
Mbappé’s numbers extended beyond club football; he scored ten goals at the 2026 World Cup, bringing his total World Cup goal tally to 22 and surpassing Lionel Messi’s record, despite France’s semi-final elimination against Spain.
Mbappé highlighted that becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history at age 27 provides an exceptional case, calling the tournament the ultimate stage for footballing legends.
Mbappé: Dembélé Became a Superstar After My Departure
The conversation shifted to the structural differences between the Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid dressing rooms, particularly regarding the high concentration of star personalities at Madrid.
“In my final year in Paris, there was no star besides me. Ousmane became a real superstar after that,” Mbappé remarked.
Dembélé joined PSG in the summer of 2023 and spent one season alongside Mbappé before taking over as the team’s primary focal point following Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024.
Dembélé’s production exploded during the 2024–2025 campaign, recording 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions while leading PSG to their first UEFA Champions League title alongside a domestic treble, culminating in Dembélé winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Paris Saint-Germain continued their European dominance by securing back-to-back Champions League titles after Mbappé’s departure. The French captain addressed this pragmatically, acknowledging that PSG built a sustainable winning cycle under Luis Enrique.
Conversely, Dembélé named Mbappé among his top candidates for the upcoming award alongside Harry Kane and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while playing down his own chances of retaining the trophy and predicting it would remain with a PSG player.
Messi and Ronaldo Inspired Mbappé’s Ambition
Mbappé admitted that during previous seasons he felt he was the best player in the world, yet accepted losing to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo because he viewed them as belonging to a tier of their own.
He explained that the two icons redefined standards and perceptions of greatness, adding that he belongs to the generation inspired by them without feeling burdened by their individual achievements.
The Real Madrid striker emphasized that he has developed into a more complete footballer, transitioning from relying on specific attributes to possessing versatile solutions across different positions and tactical systems.
Addressing criticisms over his defensive contributions, Mbappé acknowledged he could offer more off-ball effort, but insisted his attacking output creates scoring opportunities matched by very few players in Europe.
He defended the intrinsic value of goalscorers, arguing that putting the ball in the net remains the most difficult task in football, and a player who scores consistently can never be considered a problem for his team.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium, where Mbappé and Dembélé headline a shortlist alongside Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and several Paris Saint-Germain stars.
