Kylian Mbappe believes his individual performances have put him in contention to win the Ballon d’Or, despite ending the season without a major trophy with either Real Madrid or France.
The 27-year-old forward has emerged as the leading scorer across several of football’s biggest competitions, finishing as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup.
“I think that this could be a good year for me, and I really feel it,” Mbappe told RFI radio as he continued his campaign for the prestigious individual award.
The France international argued that the Ballon d’Or recognises individual performances rather than the success of an entire team.
“They won’t announce a team in the envelope, they will announce a player,” he said.
“The ability to perform individually and produce eye-catching moments, that’s what stands out to people for an award like this.”
Mbappe scored 25 goals in La Liga last season and added 15 in the Champions League before finding the net 10 times at the World Cup.
His international tally also helped him become the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 22 World Cup goals overall.
However, his case for the award comes despite a trophyless campaign.
France were eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals, while Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage after losing to Bayern Munich.
Mbappe also faces competition from several players whose teams enjoyed major successes during the season.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres were part of the Spanish side that won La Liga and the World Cup, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrated Ligue 1 and Champions League success.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane also enters the race after helping the German club win the Bundesliga title.
Mbappe’s statistical output nevertheless gives him a strong individual record to present to voters, particularly his scoring achievements across domestic, European and international competitions.
The former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain forward will discover whether those performances are enough when the Ballon d’Or winner is announced at a ceremony in London on October 26.
