Mbappe Bets 22-Goal Record on Ballon d'Or Odds

Kylian Mbappe believes his 22 World Cup goals are enough to win the Ballon d'Or on Monday.

The ceremony takes place in London on October 26, 2026. The award carries no cash prize, but it increases a player's market value and status. Mbappe is not the favorite among bookmakers, and he did not lead every scoring chart last season. He is relying on individual records to secure the honor.

The 2025-26 season ended without a trophy for Mbappe at either the club or international level. He won the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup in North America for the second consecutive tournament. He became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals in 22 matches. Lionel Messi ranks second with 21 goals, and Miroslav Klose is third with 16. Mbappe said last month that overtaking legends in the sport's most important tournament is a standout achievement. When asked who he was voting for, he replied, "Myself."

His club performance was equally strong. Mbappe scored 25 goals to top La Liga scoring charts. He also netted 15 goals in the Champions League, leading that competition as well. The former Paris Saint-Germain forward stated that being the top scorer in all major competitions makes it a good year for him.

Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. The club went a second straight season without a major trophy. The team played under managers Xabi Alonso and then Alvaro Arbeloa. France finished fourth at the World Cup, losing to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place playoff.

Rival candidates won titles. Lamine Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona. Harry Kane won three trophies with Bayern Munich, including the Bundesliga title. Mbappe told radio station RFI that the award goes to a player, not a team. He said individual performance and eye-catching moments matter most. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho backed him, noting that Mbappe made history this summer despite not playing for PSG or the Spanish national team.

History favors trophy winners. Every Ballon d'Or winner over the past decade lifted at least one trophy in the award year. Ousmane Dembele won in 2025 after helping PSG win the Champions League. Rodri won the award two years ago after winning Euro 2024 and the Premier League with Manchester City. The last winner without a major trophy was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013. He won his second Ballon d'Or after scoring 66 goals for club and country. Portugal failed to advance past the 2012 World Cup playoffs, and Real Madrid finished as league runners-up. Mbappe has nine nominations and a third-place finish in 2023.