Kylian Mbappé's Ballon d'Or Campaign Draws Criticism in France

Kylian Mbappé has increased his media appearances to defend his Ballon d'Or candidacy, but his comments are already drawing criticism in France and do not appear to be changing his standing among the favorites.

Mbappé Turns the Ballon d'Or Into a Media Battle

The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or is entering its final stretch, and Kylian Mbappé has decided to publicly defend his candidacy. The Real Madrid forward has increased his number of interviews to explain his arguments, a strategy that has already drawn criticism in France. The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London.

Mbappé argues that an individual award should primarily assess personal performance and has highlighted his impressive numbers: 25 goals in LaLiga, 15 in the Champions League, and a record 22 goals in World Cup history. The main point of debate is that he ended the season without winning a major team trophy.

Meanwhile, journalist Daniel Riolo of RMC Sport believes the Frenchman's frequent media appearances are making his campaign uncomfortable. According to the analyst, the forward is placing too much importance on a race that should be decided primarily by what happens on the pitch.

The Remark That Sparked Controversy

The strongest criticism came on After Foot, where Riolo directly questioned Mbappé's campaign and argued that the player is exaggerating his case to convince voters. The situation drew even more attention because the interview in question took place before the Madrid derby.

Mbappé then had a heavily criticized performance in the defeat against Atlético de Madrid, which Riolo used as context to reinforce his criticism. The journalist described the campaign as overly obvious and delivered a remark that quickly became one of the biggest headlines of the controversy: “It looks like a stolen car.”

Mbappé Defends His Numbers While Kane Gains Ground

While Mbappé continues to increase his public presence, Harry Kane remains in a prominent position among the favorites listed by English bookmakers. According to RMC Sport, the Bayern Munich striker is ranked ahead of Lamine Yamal and Mbappé despite speaking far less about his chances of winning.

Kane's case is backed by his numbers: 61 goals in 51 appearances during the 2025-26 season. Behind him is Yamal, who enjoyed an outstanding campaign with Barcelona, although his performances during Spain's World Cup run were more subdued due to an injury suffered late in the season.

Meanwhile, Mbappé ranks third in the odds cited by the French outlet. Curiously, his intense media campaign does not appear to have improved his position, while his rival Kane continues to gain ground.

Mbappé's Statements Add Even More Tension

The controversy also grew because of several statements made by Mbappé during his recent interviews. In a conversation published by France Football on September 11, the France captain discussed his view of the biggest players of the modern era and made it clear that he has long considered himself one of the footballers destined to compete for this type of individual recognition.

Along the same lines, the forward made an indirect reference to Ousmane Dembélé, the current Ballon d'Or winner, contrasting how the two players have been perceived throughout their careers. His comments were interpreted as another defense of his candidacy against the other contenders.