Pascal Ferré rejects Mbappé, says the Ballon d’Or must be earned
The captain of Les Bleus, Kylian Mbappé, aged twenty‑seven, claims he deserves his first Ballon d’Or in an interview broadcast this morning at nine thirty‑two on RMC, while former France Football editor Pascal Ferré retorts that the trophy does not claim itself, it must be earned.
Pascal Ferré's Preference
Pascal Ferré, who led the editorial team of the magazine that originated the Ballon d’Or, said he had a preference for another player, explicitly excluding Real Madrid, “Honestly, frankly, I don’t think so.” He added that Ousmane Dembélé and the young prodigy Lamine Yamal were also serious contenders.
In the same interview, Ferré recalled that the Ballon d’Or rewards “a different player,” without a direct link to the number of goals, an opinion shared by Spanish world champion Lamine Yamal.
The Secret of the Ballon d’Or Voting
Since 2024, winners are no longer informed before the ceremony in London, which prevents any premature statements. Ferré criticized the rule change that took place in the middle of Messi’s and Cristiano Ronaldo’s reign, deeming it difficult to get accepted.
Mbappé plans Ballon d'Or party with Ester Expósito in London
He explained that secrecy is maintained by limiting the number of people in the know to fewer than five, and by circulating false rankings within the France Football editorial team to feed social media.
During the interview, Léo Manson reminded that Ferré, three years after his departure, no longer knows whether these practices persist, recalling an incident where a mysterious envelope was left at a hotel reception.
Ferré also described the many solicitations he received during the voting period, including calls from agents wanting him to champion their players to the jurors, a proposal he politely declined.
Mbappé rushes to London, joins Dembélé before the Ballon d’Or
But the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for Monday after the presentation to Ousmane Dembélé, remains open: PSG would not refuse a second triumph for Mbappé, who continues to run a media campaign asserting “There was no one better than me last season.” The debate between merit and ambition continues.