Mbappe Aims for Ballon d'Or With 22 World Cup Goals Despite No Trophies
The French star seeks to break a decade-long trend by relying on individual scoring records rather than team silverware.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
Kylian Mbappe scored 22 goals in 22 matches during the 2026 World Cup to become the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history. This record stands as his primary argument for the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded on Monday in London.
The prize carries no cash value, but it elevates a player's market status and legacy. Mbappe is not the favorite among bookmakers, nor was he the top scorer in every competition last season, yet he has aggressively promoted his candidacy.
His individual statistics remain dominant across multiple tournaments. In La Liga, he finished as the top scorer with 25 goals. He also led the scoring charts in the Champions League with 15 goals, marking his second consecutive Golden Boot winner at the World Cup.
Mbappe noted that overtaking legends like Lionel Messi, who is second with 21 goals, and Miroslav Klose, who is third with 16, in the sport's most important tournament is a standout achievement. He stated, "Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends in the history of the sport in the most important tournament there is, is something that really stands out."
The absence of team trophies presents a challenge. Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. France placed fourth at the World Cup, losing to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place playoff.
Rivals such as Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane hold stronger cases for team success. Yamal won the World Cup and La Liga with Barcelona, while Kane collected three trophies, including the Bundesliga title, with Bayern Munich. Despite this, Mbappe's manager Jose Mourinho backed his player, stating that the summer's historic performer is not from PSG or the Spanish national team.
Historical data shows that every Ballon d'Or winner over the past decade lifted at least one major trophy in the award year. The last exception was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013, who won the award after Real Madrid finished as league runners-up. Mbappe has been nominated nine times, finishing third in 2023, and believes his individual impact justifies the honor.
