Kylian Mbappé scored numerous goals during the season, but that was not enough for the Real Madrid striker to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The Frenchman had to settle for second place, behind England’s Harry Kane.
The Spanish newspaper Marca has analysed the reasons behind Mbappé’s defeat, highlighting what it considers a decisive factor: team trophies and players’ contributions to collective success.
According to this assessment, the last three winners of the award — Rodri, Ousmane Dembélé and Harry Kane — share one key characteristic that sets them apart from the French striker: success with their respective teams.
Team Trophies: The Key to Winning the Ballon d’Or
According to Marca, recent Ballon d’Or winners have demonstrated that goals and individual statistics are not always enough to win football’s most prestigious individual award.
Mbappé enjoyed an exceptional season in terms of goals, finishing as the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League.
However, Real Madrid failed to win any major trophies, which negatively affected his candidacy.
By contrast, Rodri won the Ballon d’Or following his success with Manchester City and Spain’s triumph at the European Championship, while Ousmane Dembélé was recognised for his contribution to Paris Saint-Germain’s achievements.
Harry Kane, the winner of the 2026 edition, combined outstanding individual performances with trophies won with Bayern Munich.
For this reason, according to the Spanish newspaper’s analysis, the English striker presented a stronger overall case to the voters.
Although the Ballon d’Or is an individual award, team success continues to play an important role in determining the winner.
Mbappé Must Win Trophies with Real Madrid
The Frenchman has never hidden his ambition to win the Ballon d’Or. He came close in 2018, finishing fourth after France’s triumph at the World Cup.
In 2020, Mbappé scored 30 goals and registered 18 assists for Paris Saint-Germain, but the Ballon d’Or ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now at Real Madrid, the French striker is determined to fulfil his dream, but he will need to combine impressive statistics with major trophies to achieve it.
According to Marca, the examples of Rodri, Dembélé and Kane show that individual dominance must be accompanied by team success.
Mbappé still has time to win the award, but his next objective is clear: help Real Madrid win La Liga or the Champions League and play a leading role in those triumphs.