Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has expressed his desire to see the Ballon d’Or return to the Santiago Bernabéu, saying the prestigious individual award would give the club’s supporters another reason to celebrate.
Mbappé made the comments during an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS on Thursday as attention continues to build around the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The France international, who joined Real Madrid in 2024 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, said he particularly wants the award to return to Madrid and be celebrated by the club’s supporters.
“I really want the Ballon d’Or to return to Real Madrid,” Mbappé said. He added that the award should return to the Bernabéu and give Madridistas something to celebrate.
Mbappé also addressed his own chances of winning the award, making it clear that he believes his performances on the pitch should provide the strongest argument for his candidacy.
“In my opinion, this is a good year to win it,” the French forward said, adding that his performances are his “best advocates”.
The comments come after Mbappé was included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The award recognises individual performances over the relevant assessment period and is decided through voting by international football journalists.
Mbappé has never won the Ballon d’Or, despite finishing third in the 2023 voting. His latest comments underline his ambition to add the individual honour to his growing list of personal achievements.
The Frenchman has also previously spoken about his Ballon d’Or ambitions. Earlier this month, he said playing for Real Madrid naturally brings expectations of competing for major individual awards. He acknowledged that the final decision rests with the journalists who vote for the prize.
His candidacy comes despite Real Madrid and France having endured a season without the major team trophies Mbappé would have hoped to win. However, he has pointed to his individual statistics as evidence that he remains worthy of consideration.
According to Reuters, Mbappé scored 25 goals in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League during the relevant campaign. He also became the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, reaching 22 goals in the competition.
Mbappé has argued that the Ballon d’Or is an individual award and that his personal performances should therefore be considered alongside team achievements.
The Real Madrid forward also used his latest interview to praise Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who is another prominent name in discussions surrounding the award.
Despite representing Real Madrid and facing Barcelona in one of world football’s biggest rivalries, Mbappé acknowledged Yamal’s talent and expressed his belief that the teenager has a bright future.
“Lamine Yamal is a very talented player, and I have a feeling he’s going to have a great career,” Mbappé said, wishing the Barcelona winger well.
Mbappé’s comments come at a time when the Ballon d’Or debate is attracting significant attention, with several leading players competing for the individual prize.
For Real Madrid, the award has a long history at the club. Karim Benzema was the most recent Madrid player to win it, claiming the 2022 Ballon d’Or after a remarkable campaign.
Mbappé now hopes to become the next Real Madrid player to lift the trophy.
The French forward has made no secret of his personal ambition, but he has also repeatedly stressed the importance of helping Real Madrid compete for major team honours.
His latest comments therefore combine personal ambition with a desire to bring another prestigious individual award back to the Bernabéu.
With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, Mbappé’s performances will remain central to the discussion surrounding his candidacy. The final outcome, however, will be determined by the journalists participating in the official voting process.
For now, Mbappé’s message is straightforward: he wants the Ballon d’Or back at Real Madrid, and he believes his performances can make the case for him.
