Kylian Mbappé feels disappointed with the way Real Madrid has handled his campaign to win the Ballon d’Or, having expected more overt support from the club in his pursuit of the first individual accolade of his career.
According to Foot Mercato, citing Spanish reports, the French forward was taken aback by the club’s approach during this crucial phase, particularly in contrast to the vocal backing Lamine Yamal receives from Barcelona.
Mbappé had hoped Real Madrid would rally strongly behind his nomination ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for October 26, drawing on the club’s historical tradition of aggressively championing their star players and steering media attention in their favor.
Mbappé had previously mocked a report alleging a rift with the club over the campaign, taking to social media to tersely reply that he was “also angry with his great-aunt.”
The France captain spoke openly about the award in September, affirming that it remains one of his primary objectives while placing the UEFA Champions League at an even higher tier, eager to claim Europe’s ultimate prize with the club he has described as his dream team.
The sensitivity of the situation is heightened by the fact that Mbappé finished the previous Champions League campaign as top scorer with 15 goals, though he fell short of the collective success he anticipated at Real Madrid—making his Ballon d’Or aspirations heavily reliant on individual statistics rather than major team trophies.
Furthermore, the report comes amid a backdrop of separate controversy during the international break, following the player’s knee examinations followed by trips to Paris and Switzerland, before José Mourinho stepped in to firmly dismiss any accusations of professional negligence on the player’s part.
Talk of a fracture with Real Madrid remains within the realm of unconfirmed speculation, though how the club handles the final weeks leading up to the voting, combined with the eventual outcome of the award, will determine whether this disappointment is fleeting or the beginning of a deeper fissure.
