A Nod to the Ballon d’Or

In interviews with Bild and Telefoot, Kylian Mbappé addressed one of football’s hottest topics: the Ballon d’Or. The Frenchman openly backed his national teammate Ousmane Dembélé, insisting he deserves the award after a brilliant season.

Beyond his preferences, Mbappé admitted that the trophy is also one of his personal ambitions. “Of course it’s a dream. It’s on everyone’s mind, and on mine too. If I win trophies and have a good season, I want to win it,” confessed the Real Madrid striker, acknowledging that only collective success will allow him to achieve that goal.

The Comment on Lamine Yamal

The interview also produced a lighthearted moment when the name of Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s jewel and Spanish football’s breakout star, came up. Smiling, Mbappé avoided going too deep on the young Ballon d’Or contender and instead dropped a line that quickly went viral: “Yamal, he’s from Barcelona, we can’t say anything.”

The remark, accompanied by laughter, reflected both Mbappé’s respect for the Blaugrana winger and the eternal rivalry between Madrid and Barça, now extended to the individual stage. His mention of Yamal did not go unnoticed and was interpreted as an implicit acknowledgment of his immense talent.

Mbappé’s reaction also underlines the scale of Yamal’s rise: at just 17, he is already part of the conversation for major awards and is tipped to become one of football’s future dominators. That France’s captain would even joke about him is proof of the level of recognition the teenager has earned in record time.

The World Cup on the Horizon

Beyond the Ballon d’Or, Mbappé also pointed to what he considers his biggest target: the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. “Many of us want to be world champions. It’s a special competition, and we want to win it,” said the forward, confident that France has the talent to compete for another star.

A Leader Hungry for More

Between his obsession with collective trophies, the dream of lifting the Ballon d’Or, and playful remarks about Yamal, Mbappé made it clear that his ambition knows no bounds. At just 25, he already speaks like a seasoned leader and keeps alive the fire of a competitor determined to leave his mark on every possible stage.