Ferré claims Yamal earned 2026 Ballon d’Or over Mbappé despite his trophies
Former Ballon d’Or chief Pascal Ferré said Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has not done enough to win the 2026 award, arguing that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal deserves it after winning both LaLiga and the World Cup. Ferré noted Mbappé finished as top scorer in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup but did not win a trophy with his club during the season.
He emphasized that winning trophies matters more than individual stats, stating, “Honestly, I think Kylian’s campaign is massive compared to Lamine’s… I don’t think Kylian’s campaign has achieved very much.” Ferré added that among the 30 nominees, Mbappé was one of the few who didn’t win a club trophy, and that football remains a team sport where success is measured by winning.
The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on October 26, 2026. Ferré’s comments highlight how voters may weigh team achievements over personal goal tallies when deciding the award.
If you follow the Ballon d’Or race, consider whether a player’s trophy haul should outweigh individual scoring feats, and think about how this perspective might influence your own view of who deserves football’s top individual honour.