Kylian Mbappe among Ballon d'Or contenders after impressive season

Kylian Mbappe is a leading contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or following a prolific campaign with Real Madrid and France, scoring 58 goals. Despite this achievement, his lack of major team trophies poses challenges against rivals like Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, and Rodri, who bring strong trophy narratives. Mbappe recorded 42 goals for Real Madrid in the 2025-26 season, leading the Champions League with 15 goals, while also becoming France's all-time leading scorer. However, Real Madrid's failure to secure significant titles raises questions about his candidacy. Currently, he is dealing with a knee injury sustained after recently scoring for France against Türkiye, which does not impact the Ballon d'Or evaluation period.

• 12:45 PMYahoo Sports — Kylian Mbappe faces strong Ballon d’Or rivals despite 58-goal run