Mbappé remains without Ballon d’Or despite his top‑scorer titles in Liga

Two months shy of his twenty‑eight years, Kylian Mbappé has still not lifted the Ballon d’Or, and still sees himself far from Thierry Henry's feat. Despite his self‑proclamation as favorite for the 2026 edition, he is the top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, as well as the top scorer of the World Cup with the French national team, the prodigy from Bondy.

He has, however, won no trophies with Real Madrid nor with the French national team, the campaign ending in the World Cup semi‑final, beaten by Spain. This elimination left his résumé incomplete.

The French captain ultimately finished third, behind Harry Kane, who was crowned Ballon d’Or 2026. Kane, like Mbappé, has also not lifted the Champions League nor the World Cup.

Lamine Yamal, star of the new world champions, was decisive only twice during the tournament in North America, with a goal and an assist.

An exceptional record of consistency

Mbappé has only two Ballon d’Or podiums, after a third‑place finish in 2023, but he is already stringing together nine consecutive editions in the top 10. This consistency is unprecedented among the French.

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In 2025, he became the first French player to appear eight times in a row in the top 10, surpassing previous records.

Michel Platini and Thierry Henry had already reached seven consecutive rankings among the top ten, a remarkable feat at the time.

Platini, nicknamed “Platoche”, won the Ballon d’Or in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and finished third in 1977 and 1980.

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Thierry Henry, called “Titi”, finished second in 2003 and third in 2006.