Mbappe eyes Ballon d'Or after World Cup glory ahead of Real Madrid-Inter UCL clash
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe said Monday it's natural for people to consider him a Ballon d'Or contender after scoring 10 goals to win the Golden Boot at this summer's World Cup, where France finished fourth. The 27-year-old captain has now scored 22 World Cup goals in his career, making him the tournament's all-time top scorer.
Speaking at Ciudad Real Madrid training ground ahead of Tuesday's Champions League opener against Inter Milan, Mbappe acknowledged frequent public discussions about the award but emphasized there's "still a long time to go." Since joining Madrid in 2024, he's scored prolifically while the club awaits its first major trophy.
Mbappe stated he'd accept fewer goals if it meant winning titles, rejecting the notion that individual and team success are mutually exclusive: "I always want to score goals and win titles; you don't have to choose, you can do both things." Coach Jose Mourinho, who led Inter to Champions League glory in 2010, wants his players to treat the match as a "one-off game" despite their history.
For Nigerian football fans following global stars, this context reveals how top players balance personal accolades with team ambitions in high-stakes European competition.