Kylian Mbappé turned Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Inter into a Ballon d'Or case on the eve of the league-phase meeting at the Bernabéu. He said the award talk comes with the badge, then added that this year could be a good one for him to win it. His 2026 World Cup also gave him a fresh argument: 10 goals, the Golden Boot, and a record 22 career goals at the tournament.

Mbappé's Ballon d'Or case

The most direct line came when Mbappé said: "I always think I'm the best [player in the world] but everyone has their own opinion." He also told BBC Sport that when you play for Real Madrid, people naturally associate you with the award. That is not a bad place to start a Ballon d'Or pitch, especially from a player who has never won it and finished third in 2023.

Mbappé's club form gives the same story some backing. He has started the 2026-27 season with 4 goals in 3 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid, and his 8.53 rating in the league is up there with the strongest numbers in the early part of the campaign. The Ballon d'Or will be awarded on 26 October, so the next run of matches will still sit inside the conversation.

The Vinícius Júnior talk around Real Madrid

The other thread in the build-up was the chatter about Vinícius Júnior and whether there is a problem between the two. Mbappé pushed that aside, saying he cannot control what people say about Real Madrid. He framed the situation as a club issue rather than a personal feud, while the alternate line from other reports was that there is tension to discuss at all.

Mbappé's own message was more straightforward than the gossip around it. He said Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world, that he is happy to be back in the Champions League, and that they are in good shape for a demanding night. Inter also arrive with form, having won four of their last five league games and drawn the other one, so this is not a soft stage for a personal campaign. The Ballon d'Or talk comes with a real match attached to it on 26 October.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →