Ballon d’Or: Mbappé's move remains completely ineffective

The former editor-in-chief of France Football, Pascal Ferré, said that Kylian Mbappé's campaign for the Ballon d’Or was ineffective and admitted that he would like to vote for another candidate. The award ceremony takes place on Monday, 26 October, in London and is voted for by 100 journalists worldwide.

Mbappé's impressive season

Kylian Mbappé is among the favorites because he became top scorer in the ongoing La Liga, in the Champions League and at the 2026 World Cup. At the World Cup he also set a record and was crowned the most successful scorer of all time in the tournament. “Being the best scorer of all time in the history of the World Cup, surpassing all great legends – that is breathtaking,” Mbappé told France Football.

Ferré's assessment and the voting procedure

Ferré, who had control over the Ballon d’Or from 1996 to 2023, believes that Mbappé's media offensive does not influence the jury. He said: “Honestly, I think Kylian ran a far better campaign than Lamine [Yamal], but a Ballon d’Or is not something you demand, it is something you earn.”

Ballon d’Or race heats up as Kylian Mbappé faces podium doubt

The award is organized by the French magazine France Football and voted for by one hundred journalists from around the world to honour the best player of the past year. The ceremony in London is considered the highest individual accolade in football.

Given the fierce competition, several top candidates have campaigned intensively for the award, with Mbappé promoting his own candidacy in a series of high‑profile interviews. Ferré, however, emphasized that he has heard from some jury members that such campaigns have no influence on the voting.

The contrast between Mbappé's loud self‑promotion and Ferré's sober assessment highlights that the decision is ultimately made by independent experts. The result will only become visible on the evening of the announcement in London.