Ballon d'Or 2026: Kylian Mbappé slammed after his comments

Ballon d'Or 2026: Kylian Mbappé slammed after his comments The Frenchman draws criticism Ballon d'Or Today at 14:44 Add Foot Africa on Google Ballon d'Or 2026: Kylian Mbappé slammed after his comments On Monday, Kylian Mbappé faced the press on the eve of the Champions League match against Inter Milan. His comments about his chances of winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or immediately sparked a reaction. At the press conference on Monday, Kylian Mbappé was questioned at length about Real Madrid's disastrous 2025-2026 season, his mixed relationship with Vinicius Junior, his lack of defensive work, and his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or. The Frenchman then came out swinging in his defense. When a journalist tried to compare him to Raphinha and Ousmane Dembélé, who defend more than him, Mbappé replied that he "scores more goals" than they do. When asked about his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, the former PSG player stated that his performances at the 2026 World Cup put him in a very strong position: "I always believe that history should always be rewarded." This media appearance had repercussions in France. L'Equipe decided to publish a video excerpt from the interview Mbappé gave to France Football, which will be published on its website on Friday. In this excerpt, the Real Madrid player is very clear. He knows who he's voting for. "For myself," he confided, before adding, "I have a feeling I can win it, so I'm not taking a step back from that," before confirming that the Ballon d'Or was indeed one of his objectives. Reactions in Spain Since Mbappé's press conference, the Catalan newspaper Sport wrote: "Mbappé has forgotten humility and is claiming the Ballon d'Or. Kylian Mbappé is highlighting his performances from last season and presenting himself as a serious Ballon d'Or candidate, despite Real Madrid's 'nadaplete' (an ironic play on words between the Spanish word 'nada' (nothing) and the triumphant suffix '-plete' used to describe a season in which a team wins no trophies)." Who's the greatest Ballon d'Or winner? 🏆 Kylian Mbappé had to choose between legends… Follow the nominations live on https://t.co/WrVGTh51OO!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/01hbgkFiKA — Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 7, 2026 For his part, coach Lorenzo Manchado told Jijantes: "What Mbappé did at the press conference isn't normal. I found it a bit 'Cristiano-esque.' He had a good start to the season, I don't think that worries Real Madrid fans. Mbappé doesn't make mistakes when he addresses certain issues. He knows very well what he's saying and he's certainly thought it through beforehand." 'Mbappé, the Barcelona-based journalist for El Confidencial, also disliked the Real Madrid player's comments. 'Mbappé confirms that he's completely lost, that his ego is inflated, and that he doesn't understand why he failed at Real Madrid. He talks about his goals when he took 31 shots to score only 4. He's nominating himself for the Ballon d'Or after not having won a single title, and on top of that, he criticizes Raphinha and Dembélé,' he posted on his Twitter account. El Nacional also offered its own scathing headline: 'The most narcissistic Mbappé demands the Ballon d'Or.' As a reminder, the thirty nominees for the Ballon d'Or will be announced soon. Joshua SOSSOU Editorfr, en, ar As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.