Kylian Mbappé identifies himself as a candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or

France captain Kylian Mbappé announced on Monday his candidacy for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The Real Madrid forward spoke at a press conference on the eve of the announcement of the 30 finalists for the award. Mbappé finished the 2026 World Cup as the tournament's top scorer, a performance he cites as the basis for his inclusion in the conversation for the accolade. He enters the selection process following a 2025-2026 campaign that saw him finish without a major trophy at either the club level with Real Madrid or with the France national team. While analysts consider him a contender, the lack of silverware during the domestic and international season creates uncertainty regarding his chances against other nominees. Officials will reveal the full list of 30 nominees on Tuesday.

• 4:54 PMYahoo Sports — 🗣️ Have your say: does Mbappé deserve the Ballon d'Or?