Kylian Mbappé's Ballon d'Or Hopes Fade After Second-Place Finish to Harry Kane

20minutes.fr (French) —

Kylian Mbappé finished second to Harry Kane in the 2026 Ballon d'Or, failing to win the prestigious individual trophy for the first time in his career. The French captain, 27, has yet to claim the award he has long pursued. Kane won his first Ballon d'Or after scoring 73 goals and winning the Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayern Munich, while Mbappé had a trophy-less season with Real Madrid despite being the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup. Mbappé reportedly ran an aggressive campaign to secure votes, but Real Madrid did not lobby on his behalf. Mbappé now faces growing pressure, with rising star Lamine Yamal finishing third and expected to challenge him in coming years. Without a World Cup next year, Mbappé must win major trophies to remain a contender, as he risks joining players like Thierry Henry who never won the award.


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