Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid superstar
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s start to the new season has not been great, with the club suffering two defeats in La Liga and escaping several other scares before the first international break of the campaign.
Kylian Mbappe, however, has seemingly been paying more attention to the Ballon d’Or race than the team’s on-field performances, for his interviews on why he deserves to win the award have been far more passionate than his talks on the team’s struggles.
After a record-breaking season with Real Madrid last year, the player is one of the contenders to win the accolades. His failure to win a single title with club or country, however, works against him.
To fortify his case and improve his chances, he has been regularly talking about the Ballon d’Or in recent interviews, even proclaiming that he is the deserved winner for this year.
“I would vote for myself to win the Ballon d’Or,” he claimed strongly.
Mbappe’s second push for the Ballon d’Or
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Rodri of Manchester City holds his ballon d'or award prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The award Mbappe dreams of. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
In a recent interview with RFI, the Real Madrid star once again heavily campaigned for the Ballon d’Or and made it clear why he felt he was a deserving candidate to win the individual accolade.
“I had a great year individually, and that’s the top criterion for the Ballon d’Or,” he began, pushing his individual numbers as the biggest factor in his favour.
Mbappe then stated how he was the top scorer in all major events in the season, further attempting to push his case for the award.
“I was the top scorer of all big competitions.”
Moving past hope and arriving at a stage of belief that he will be rewarded for his numbers, Mbappe then said,
Mbappe is only one of the many candidates. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
“I’m feeling good about the Ballon d’Or this year, I think this could be the right year for me.
“I would be disappointed if I didn’t win it,” he added.
Finally, Mbappe explained what he meant by disappointment and why he would see it as a big defeat if he was not proclaimed the winner.
“I am a competitor, and when a competitor loses, he is sad.
“My competitive soul would be hurt!” he concluded.
Mbappe to have a different role than Real Madrid with France under Zidane – report
Kylian Mbappe and Zinedine Zidane
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane is set to take charge of France for the first time during the current international break, and the new manager is considering changes to his attacking setup that could directly affect Kylian Mbappe.
Indeed, according to RMC Sport (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Zidane is weighing up moving the Real Madrid forward away from his central striker role and back to the left wing, the position he occupied earlier in his international career.
The new France manager had already hinted at a different role for Mbappe since announcing his squad last week.
Zinedine Zidane, France manager
Zidane could use Mbappe on the left wing. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
On being asked if he saw the Real Madrid superstar as his first-choice centre-forward with the national team, Zidane had said:
“I don’t think so, he can play in all three positions, I really like him on the left.”
The comments suggest that Zidane sees Mbappe’s versatility as an opportunity to reshape France’s attack rather than simply keeping him as the central striker.
Playing on the left would also be familiar territory for Mbappe. At Real Madrid, he has increasingly had to operate through the middle, but his natural role has always been on the left flank.
At the club, though, Vinicius Jr. happens to be the undisputed starter on the left flank, which has created some problem as both players tend to occupy the same kind of positions on the pitch, which was clearly visible during the derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid player
Mbappe to return to his natural role with France? (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
According to the report, Mbappe moving to the left could allow Ousmane Dembele to take over as France’s central striker.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner has excelled in a central role in Luis Enrique’s fluid system at PSG over the past couple of seasons and Zidane sees him as an option for the role in the national team setup.
For Mbappe, the switch would represent a return to a familiar position under a new France manager, with Zidane already making clear that he wants to make full use of the forward’s ability to play across the front three.