Ballon d’Or: Mbappé's campaign has hurt his candidacy
Kylian Mbappé finished second in the Ballon d’Or France Football ranking, his best result since the start of his career. Present at the Palladium Theatre in London on 26 October 2026, he was the only Real Madrid player to feature in the top 10, after a constant presence in the top 10 since 2017.
Performance record and ranking
The Frenchman had never surpassed third place, which he achieved in 2023 after his brilliant World Cup in Qatar. Since 2017, he has been a regular in the top 10, making this second place his best record to date.
Media campaign and reactions
Pascal Ferré, former head of France Football, believes that Mbappé's communication weighed negatively on the balance. « I’m not sure it’s a problem, but I’m also not certain it’s the right method », he told RMC. « A Ballon d’Or is not claimed, it is earned », he added, noting that the jurors, not the media or the fans, are the real targets of the presidential campaign.
Vincent Garcia, Ferré’s successor, confirmed that « Mbappé has long led the race ». The captain of the French national team, Kylian Mbappé, therefore remains at the heart of the debate.
Mbappé flies to London for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Vinicius steps back
The ceremony took place in London, at the Palladium Theatre, on Monday 26 October 2026. Mbappé, Real Madrid striker, was the only club representative in the top 10, highlighting the club’s limited presence at the event.
Harry Kane, of Bayern Munich, won the Ballon d’Or, while the young Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona finished third. Jude Bellingham ended eleventh, Vinícius Júnior seventeenth, just ahead of Marc Cucurella.
Real Madrid made its first appearance at the ceremony since 2023, after boycotts in 2024 (following the omission of Vinícius Júnior) and in 2025 (when Ousmane Dembélé received the award). This time, the club presented a single candidate, Mbappé, who ultimately had to settle for second place.
Mbappé lights up the Ballon d'Or debate as the verdict is sealed
Although the second place constitutes a personal record, it is seen as a failure for a superstar destined for the highest honour. According to Ferré, the campaign strategy may have cost Mbappé the long‑awaited victory.