Papin slams Mbappé's Ballon d'Or campaign after Kane wins 2026 award
France legend Jean-Pierre Papin says Kylian Mbappé's public push for the 2026 Ballon d'Or backfired, costing him the award that went to England captain Harry Kane on Monday, October 26. Mbappé finished second—the highest of his career—after openly declaring "there is no one better than me last season" to France Football.
Papin, the 1991 winner, told RMC Sport that Mbappé's media campaign "turned against him" and compared his approach to Cristiano Ronaldo's, saying others were expected to serve the superstar. The criticism stings because Mbappé's numbers were elite: 42 goals in 44 games last season, 14 in 13 matches this term, and a recent brace against Barcelona took him to 100 goals for Real Madrid.
But Real Madrid won zero major trophies in 2025-26, leaving individual stats as Mbappé's only argument. Papin insists the 27-year-old will win a Ballon d'Or eventually: "He has the talent required... this was not his last chance."
For Nigerian fans tracking the GOAT debate: Mbappé's case revives the eternal question—should the Ballon d'Or reward individual brilliance or collective success? Kane won with Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title; Mbappé dominated statistically but lifted nothing.
Does a player need team silverware to justify football's highest individual honour, or should 42-goal seasons speak for themselves?