Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said he believes this could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d'Or, following another prolific season for both club and country. The French striker, who has yet to claim football's most prestigious individual award despite his consistent goal-scoring record, expressed confidence about his chances in the upcoming edition of the prize, according to Naija News.

France captain Kylian Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup, helping his team qualify for the quarter-finals after a tense match against Paraguay. He converted a second-half penalty, putting him ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, due to having two assists to his name as well.

The organizers of the Ballon d’Or award have clarified that footballers from any part of the world are eligible to win the prize, addressing a longstanding debate about the necessity of playing for European clubs. This statement comes as the competition for the 2026 Ballon d’Or intensifies.

As of June 24, 2026, Lionel Messi is leading the race for the Golden Boot in the World Cup with five goals, while Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are closely following with four goals each, raising questions about whether this could be the best Golden Boot contest ever, according to Al Jazeera.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has welcomed discussion about winning the Ballon d'Or following a record-breaking World Cup campaign this summer. According to Channels TV, he scored 10 goals at the tournament to claim the Golden Boot, although France finished fourth. His tally took his career World Cup total to 22 goals, making him the competition's all-time leading scorer. The striker's exploits have intensified debate over his candidacy for football's most prestigious individual award.

As of July 5, 2026, Kylian Mbappé has scored his seventh goal in five matches at the FIFA World Cup, placing him joint top scorer alongside Lionel Messi, who has also netted seven goals but in four games. Messi's latest goal was scored in the Round of 32 against Cape Verde, according to Eastleigh Voice.