Ballon d’Or: Kylian Mbappé intensifies his campaign in London
In three days, the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place Monday evening in London, where the 27‑year‑old French striker, Kylian Mbappé, never having won it, is intensifying his media campaign to convince as many voters as possible and is eager to succeed Ousmane Dembélé, last year’s trophy winner.
Mbappé's Media Campaign
Real Madrid has seen its French striker position himself as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup this season. Moreover, he holds the historic record for the most assists, which strengthens his case. These performances, relayed in translated interviews, aim to win over every jury voter.
At 27, Mbappé has never lifted the prestigious trophy, but he is betting on his recent résumé to fill the gap. His lack of major titles for two years with Real and the French national team is regularly cited as a weak point.
Vikash Dhorasoo Questions the Ambition
Former French international Vikash Dhorasoo believes that the captain of Les Bleus “lacks ambition”. He says in L’Équipe du Soir that “he is content with just scoring goals, and since others have not met all the criteria, he thinks he can have it”. According to him, the lack of a title for two years, both with Real and France, should disqualify him.
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“That’s not enough,” he continues. “I might give it to him, but he must have a much higher ambition, beyond simply breaking records and scoring goals. He hasn’t won anything for two years, yet he is claiming the Ballon d’Or,” he adds, highlighting the “something off” in his case.
For the consultant, Mbappé lacks clarity and should be even more demanding of himself. “A player like him must dominate everything, that is, score goals and win titles, but he doesn’t,” he concludes, while acknowledging his fascinating talent.
The Ballon d’Or jury will have to decide Monday evening, and it remains to be seen whether it will share the reservations expressed by Dhorasoo. The decision could redefine the award’s criteria in the future.
Whatever the verdict, the London evening will mark a turning point in the trophy’s history, pitting individual performances against collective success in the evaluation of the world’s best player.