Sergio Ramos is one of the greatest defenders in football history.
It's difficult to argue against the Spaniard's remarkable track record, which boasts four Champions Leagues, a World Cup and two European Championships among a vast array of prestigious silverware. Over the course of a glittering career at the very highest level, Ramos has played alongside and against some of the best players the game has ever seen.
As such, few are better placed to judge what it takes to reach football’s summit and the former Real Madrid captain has named one player in particular who he believes will dominate the sport’s prestigious Ballon d’Or for years to come, and it isn't Barcelona's young superstar Lamine Yamal.
Ramos: Mbappe Can Win 'Four or Five Ballon d'Ors'
The Spaniard backs the La Liga top scorer this year
Speaking at a press conference, via Goal, Ramos admitted he saw nobody more deserving of the Ballon d'Or than Mbappe, despite the Frenchman not winning a major trophy in the 2024/25 campaign.
"I [will] always give it to Mbappe. Not just out of friendship, but also because he has put in some impressive performances. It's a decisive trophy, but you never know what the criteria are for the Ballon d'Or... He scores goals, won the Golden Boot, even though Madrid hasn't won other titles that other teams have won."
"These are individual awards, not collective ones, but there are some very interesting players who have won leagues and cups. It's the little details that will make the difference, and in the end, it depends on one's own opinion. If it were up to me, I think Kylian would have the peace of mind of taking home four or five Ballon d'Ors in five or 10 years. He has the talent, even if Madrid didn't have a year full of titles, he had a great season and showed that he was a player of this level."
While it was not a successful season by Real Madrid standards, Mbappe still managed to register 43 goals and five assists in all competitions to earn the La Liga's Pichichi as well as the European Golden Boot, keeping in line with the astounding numbers he put up in previous years with Paris Saint-Germain.
But historically, the Ballon d'Or has often been influenced by major title wins. Real Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League by Arsenal in the quarter-finals, and were also beaten to the Spanish top division by Barcelona. Even so, lifting the Club World Cup could still give Mbappe’s chances a late boost ahead of the ceremony in September.
Mbappe's Future Ballon d'Or Prospects
The Frenchman is yet to win his first
Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal
A World Cup winner at 19, many thought Mbappe would dominate the future of the Ballon d'Or, perhaps comparable to the grasp the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have held in the past. It even seemed inevitable when the Monaco youth graduate netted a scintillating hat-trick in the final of the 2022 World Cup to engrave his name in history.
But Mbappe lost out on the award that year to eventual winner Lionel Messi, and he has since struggled to form the ideal combination of individual and team achievements to rank as one of the favourites since.
Kylian Mbappe's Career Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
National caps
National goals
Now, with the emergence of the likes of Lamine Yamal and Desire Doue staking their claim for the award at their young age, it appears Mbappe will have stern competition to fend off in the future.
Ultimately, the 26-year-old's talent is undeniable and being surrounded by a team of superstars at both Real Madrid and France should help platform him for regular success.
kylian mbappe Related
Kylian Mbappe Snubs Lamine Yamal When Naming His Ballon d’Or Favourite
Yamal may have been a constant thorn in Mbappe’s side since his move to Spain, but the Frenchman believes there’s one player who’s shone brighter.
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.com - Correct as of 19/06/2025