By: Dr. Talal Osman
Did the Ballon d’Or Wrong Kylian Mbappé?In an exceptional season that carried all the hallmarks of individual dominance, Kylian Mbappé delivered one of the greatest seasons in the history of modern football. He combined goal-scoring supremacy, decisive presence, and record-breaking numbers. Yet his path to the Ballon d’Or was not as smooth as many expected, opening the door to debate over whether the award wronged the French star.Unprecedented Individual DominanceMbappé concluded the 2025–2026 season by achieving a feat no other player in the history of the game had accomplished: he became the top scorer in La Liga, the top scorer in the Champions League, and the top scorer in the World Cup — all in the same season.He scored a total of 58 goals across all competitions, including:
- 25 goals in La Liga
- 15 goals in the Champions League
- 10 goals in the World Cup
- 16 goals with the French national team
He capped this remarkable season by breaking the all-time World Cup goal-scoring record, raising his tally to 22 goals and surpassing Lionel Messi.These numbers alone were enough to place Mbappé at the top of the list of Ballon d’Or frontrunners based on pure individual performance.Absence of Major Trophies… The Decisive FactorDespite this dominance, Mbappé was not the luckiest player in the race for the award. The main reason was the lack of major trophies with Real Madrid, as the team finished the season without winning:
- The Champions League
- La Liga
- The Copa del Rey
In contrast, Rodri stood out as the decisive player in Spain’s World Cup triumph, earning the Best Player of the Tournament award — a historic factor that often tips the scales in the Ballon d’Or voting.The Season’s Narrative Did Not Favor MbappéMbappé’s January injury affected the overall story of his season, even though he made a strong comeback afterward.The Ballon d’Or does not rely solely on statistics; it also depends on the complete narrative of the season. The story surrounding Mbappé was more individual than collective, which weakened his position in the voting.Was It an Injustice? An Objective ReadingFrom the perspective of individual performance, Mbappé was the most deserving candidate for the Ballon d’Or without question.However, according to the award’s criteria — which balance individual brilliance with collective achievements — his failure to win appears to be a natural outcome due to the absence of major trophies.The debate will continue between those who believe the award should go to the player with the best individual performance and those who believe it should go to the player who led his team to glory.Mbappé’s Future with Mourinho… An Opportunity to Change the EquationThe arrival of José Mourinho at Real Madrid opens a new chapter in Mbappé’s career. He is expected to be given a greater tactical role within a project aimed at competing for all titles.If Mbappé succeeds in combining his individual numbers with major trophies, the Ballon d’Or will be nothing more than the next milestone in his journey.
