Mbappé, World Cup's all-time top scorer, chases 2026 Ballon d'Or without a single trophy

Not just anyone scores 10 goals at a World Cup. That number, which earned Kylian Mbappé the all time record for most goals scored across World Cup history, is exactly the argument the Frenchman puts forward every time he's asked about the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Because yes, his name is among the nominees, and he doesn't hide the fact that he sees himself as one of the top favorites.

What stands out is that Mbappé arrives at this candidacy without having lifted a single trophy with his team in the 2025/26 season. No league title, no Champions League, nothing collective to back up his case in the betting pools. What he does have are numbers that speak for themselves: he was LaLiga's top scorer, took home the Golden Boot, and to cap off the year, those 10 World Cup goals that put him in the history books above every other scorer in the tournament's history.

In an interview with L'Equipe, the forward was direct and left no doubt about what he thinks of his chances:

I have the sense that I can win it this year. It's part of my goals, and a short term one at that, there's not much time left. Objectively, I can understand people who might vote differently. There's no dictatorship of opinion. But when you look at the arguments and the competition, it wouldn't be unfair. Nobody had a better season than me last year.Kylian Mbappé

An award for "different players"

What's interesting is how Mbappé understands the very essence of the trophy. He doesn't see it as a consensus prize or as a collective reward dressed up as an individual one. For him, the Ballon d'Or has a very specific history and logic, the one set for years by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo: recognizing someone who stands out from the pack, not someone who simply does the job.

I've always believed the Ballon d'Or should reward a different kind of player. Of course there's a collective element and it matters, because soccer is a team sport. But it's an individual trophy. And my idea of the Ballon d'Or is the one from the Messi and Ronaldo era. They never give it to normal players, only to different ones. And I think this year I did things differently. That's why I believe I can win it.Kylian Mbappé

The question that remains is whether the voting panel will see it the same way. Historically, the award has also rewarded collective success, and that's where Mbappé arrives with emptier hands than in previous candidacies. But with a World Cup won in personal statistics and a scoring lead that spans both club and country, the Frenchman has, at the very least, a solid case to make.

It would also mark the first time Mbappé takes home the award in his career. He's come close in other years, always in the conversation, always near the top, but he's never reached the very top step. Now, backed by a historic 2026 World Cup for his goal tally, he feels this could finally be his year.