Mbappé draws nearer to the elite circle of Messi and Ronaldo without touching it

While Kylian Mbappé continues to rack up top‑ten finishes in the Ballon d’Or rankings, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have already turned that early promise into lasting domination. The contrast between the Frenchman's consistency and the trophy cabinet of the two legends fuels the debate.

Almost unparalleled consistency

He broke into the top 10 in 2017, finishing seventh as he was discovering the very highest level. The following year he climbed to fourth place, then to sixth in 2019. In 2021 he finished ninth, after the 2020 edition was cancelled.

This run of four consecutive top‑ten rankings while still very young has only been achieved by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. These performances highlight an almost unrivaled consistency.

Since then, the Frenchman has kept his presence among the top spots: sixth in 2022, third in 2023 and seventh in 2025. He has just reached second place, just behind Harry Kane, his best career result.

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At twenty‑seven, every missed opportunity weighs heavier. Despite this consistency, Kylian Mbappé has still not won the Ballon d’Or.

This new honour confirms an early promise that only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had displayed before him. He thus joins a small circle of forwards who shone very early.

Messi and Ronaldo turned that early promise into lasting domination, amassing thirteen Ballons d’Or between them. Their trophy cabinet contrasts with Mbappé’s still unfinished journey.

The captain of Les Bleus now has to clear the final step so that his countless top‑ten finishes do not become the symbol of a perpetually out‑of‑reach reward. The next ranking could decide whether he finally joins the legends.