Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, at 27 years old, has voiced strong confidence in his prospects for the upcoming Ballon d’Or award, set to be presented on October 26. Despite a prolific individual season, his club has yet to secure a major trophy during his two years at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe’s personal statistics from the last season are undeniable. He netted 42 goals in 44 games for his club and secured the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, elevating his career tally at World Cups to a record 22. He also boasts an impressive eight consecutive league golden boots (six in Ligue 1 and two in La Liga), alongside two each in the World Cup and Champions League.

Speaking about the prestigious individual honour, Mbappe highlighted the significance of his club affiliation. “I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award,” he told BBC Sport. “There are many people that speak about me and the Ballon d’Or. Of course I’ve made history in the most important competition. Maybe it’s a good year for this but people can vote according to what they think.”

Mbappe’s self-belief and the competition

The France all-time top scorer, with 66 goals in 106 games, also shared his unwavering self-belief. “I always think I’m the best [player in the world] but everyone has their own opinion,” he stated, acknowledging the subjective nature of the voting process. “Maybe people think different ways. I don’t think it’s a discussion we need to have. Of course this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or. But journalists vote.”

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Despite his personal accolades, Mbappe’s highest finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings was third in 2023 when he was a Paris Saint-Germain player. This year, bookmakers have placed three other players with shorter odds:

• England captain Harry Kane, who scored a club-record 61 goals in 51 games for German double winners Bayern Munich last season and six times at the World Cup.

• Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain.

• Rodri, formerly of Manchester City, a club and international teammate of Lamine Yamal.

PSG’s success post-Mbappe

Intriguingly, Mbappe’s comments come as his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, has achieved unprecedented success in the Champions League. PSG, who had never lifted the trophy before, have won the competition in both seasons since Mbappe’s departure. Asked about this turn of events, Mbappe appeared unfazed.

“I can’t change it. The truth is that I really don’t care,” he asserted. “I know how to analyse football, I know why. I don’t know everything about football but I know more than most.”

While Mbappe has amassed 90 goals in 107 matches for Real Madrid since joining from Monaco, he is yet to win a major trophy in his two years at the Bernabeu. He also won the 2018 World Cup with France but has yet to win the Champions League at club level. “My experience with Real Madrid says I shouldn’t think too long-term because a lot can change,” he reflected, focusing on immediate team goals rather than past or future outcomes.

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