Kylian Mbappé’s overt public campaign for the Ballon d’Or has met with disapproval among certain officials inside Real Madrid, despite the historic goalscoring numbers posted by the France captain last season.
According to journalist Romain Molina, Mbappé’s presentation of himself as the most deserving candidate raised reservations within the club, where management prioritizes team achievements and institutional image over individual player ambitions.
Mbappé openly declared his confidence in earning the award, stating: “There was no player better than me last season.” He asserted that his performances for both Real Madrid and France position him as the primary candidate to claim his first Ballon d’Or.
In additional comments, he noted: “I made a lot of history over the summer in the most important sporting tournament, which is why I feel this could be the right year to win the Ballon d’Or,” emphasizing his intent to bring the trophy back to Real Madrid.
According to Molina, the internal objection stems not from the player’s ambition itself, but from converting the race into a personal campaign following a season in which Real Madrid failed to secure silverware, despite Mbappé’s standout individual figures.
The French forward netted 41 goals for Los Blancos, including 24 in La Liga and 15 in the UEFA Champions League—finishing as the top scorer in both competitions. In doing so, he became the first player to top the goalscoring charts in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup within a single season.
Mbappé also recorded 10 goals and 4 assists at the 2026 World Cup, securing his second Golden Boot as France finished in fourth place. This brought his career World Cup tally to 22 goals in 22 matches, establishing him as the all-time leading goalscorer in tournament history.
While these record-breaking numbers provide Mbappé with his primary argument for voters, the absence of team trophies combined with his direct public statements have placed him under added scrutiny within Madrid.
