Mbappé makes Ballon d'Or case: 'No player was better than me last season'

Kylian Mbappé is making no secret of his Ballon d'Or ambitions ahead of next month's ceremony. In a lengthy interview with France Football, the magazine that organizes the award, the Real Madrid forward defended his candidacy in uncompromising terms. He argued that no footballer produced a better season than him last year and that his individual numbers give him enough weight to lift the trophy. The 27-year-old also reflected on his first campaign with the Spanish giants, the criticism he has faced, José Mourinho's appointment and the rise of Europe's most exciting young talents.

• Mbappé says no player had a better season than him and that he would vote for himself for the Ballon d'Or.
• He believes his status as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history puts him in a unique position.
• The forward accepts that winning no major collective trophy hurt him but insists the award recognizes individual performance.
• He praises Mourinho's intelligence and admits he was impressed by the coach's clear direction.
• He names PSG as the team to beat in Europe and picks Lamine Yamal as the most exciting young player.

Why Mbappé believes he deserves the Ballon d'Or

The French striker laid out his position clearly during a 53-minute conversation. He accepts that he did not win a major collective title last season, but he maintains that the Ballon d'Or is an individual prize and that his record speaks for itself. Being the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history and reaching his current goal tally at just 27 years old — surpassing a legend like Leo Messi in the biggest event in sport — are, in his view, decisive differentiators.

No player was better than me last season. I have arguments to win it, like being the top scorer in World Cup history.

Mbappé understands that others may see things differently and insists he is not trying to impose his opinion. But when he analyzes his rivals, he sees nobody with a year as complete as his. He adds that votes sometimes go to the best player on the best team rather than the best player in the world. Asked who deserves the trophy, he replies with a laugh that he would vote for himself.

A prize for unique players, like Messi and Cristiano

The France international believes the Ballon d'Or should recognize footballers who define an era, as happened during the years of shared dominance between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In his view, the award rarely goes to ordinary players, which is why he feels his candidacy fits: he is convinced he did different things last season.

On the longevity of the Argentine star, still competing at 39, he jokes that he would play until he was 100, although he admits you have to know when your body says enough. He highlights that Messi has not needed to consider retirement because he can still perform at the highest level. Mbappé describes himself as a unique player, but he places Messi and Cristiano in a category of their own: the only two ever, with a clear before and after in football history. Accepting he is below both of them is no problem for him.

Lessons from a trophyless season and the Bernabéu whistles

Mbappé views his first year at Real Madrid as a learning experience. He believes every season teaches something, especially when you do not win, and that wearing the white shirt is a privilege that demands constant improvement. He accepts that the Madrid dressing room, like any other, has its share of egos, and he clarifies that this trait is not exclusive to stars: he has seen players without fame carrying enormous egos.

The whistles he received at the Santiago Bernabéu do not surprise him. He says they are normal situations at a club with such high demands and that anyone who signs for Real Madrid knows the stage they are entering. Far from feeling targeted, he says he understands the fans' reaction.

Mourinho, the PSG shadow and his evolution as a striker

José Mourinho's arrival in the Madrid dugout is another topic he addresses. The French goal scorer was impressed by the Portuguese coach's clarity of thought and stresses that players need a defined direction. Mourinho gave him one very specific instruction: score goals.

On the continental stage, Mbappé sees Paris Saint-Germain as the team to beat. The Parisian club has won two Champions League titles since his departure, and securing a second in a row strikes him as extraordinary. Although he reached a semifinal under Luis Enrique, he acknowledges that the current PSG has built solid victories and is the benchmark for everyone else.

Lamine Yamal and the young stars of the next decade

Mbappé says he inspires many footballers and that he has also learned from others, including some he considers less talented than him. Among the new generation, he has no hesitation in naming Lamine Yamal as the young player who excites him most: he believes the Barcelona winger has everything. He also highlights the special creativity of Estevão, the goalscoring potential of Endrick and the huge ceiling of Arda Güler. From his own country he mentions Warren Zaïre-Emery and Désiré Doué as talents destined for great careers.

The criticism of a number nine and what he still wants to improve

The forward has lived with criticism for years and accepts it as part of elite football. He explains that a striker is always scrutinized: people no longer look at what he does well, only at what he fails to do. For him, scoring is the hardest and most valuable thing in football, and a goalscorer will never be a problem within a team.

That does not mean he sees no room for improvement. He admits he can contribute more defensively to help his teams and that he can still be more effective in attack. He argues that no player in Europe can create as many chances for himself as he does, a quality he wants to exploit even further.

The eliminations against Spain: a pity, not a failure

France were eliminated in two consecutive tournaments, the European Championship and the World Cup, by Spain. Mbappé rejects the word failure and prefers to call it a shame. He believes the Spanish side managed the matches better and that the French team got its approach wrong at the start. Against a team that loves possession, France could not readjust in time.