Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has expressed that it is natural for people to consider him a candidate for the Ballon d'Or this year following his performance at the World Cup. Mbappe, who captained France, scored 10 goals during the tournament, earning the Golden Boot and making him the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals. Despite his individual success, France finished fourth in the tournament.
Mbappe, 27, has yet to win the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player. He stated, "I think that when you play for Real Madrid, which is the best club in the world, naturally people associate you with that kind of award, they associate you with collective awards, individual awards." He noted that many people approach him regarding his chances for the award, acknowledging his historical achievements in the competition.
He mentioned, "I have the feeling that it’s a good year for that, but there’s still a long time to go, and people are free to vote for whoever they think is the best player in the world."
Since joining Real Madrid in 2024, Mbappe has scored a significant number of goals, although the club has not secured a major trophy during his tenure. The team is set to face Inter Milan in their first Champions League match of the season.
Mbappe commented on the team's performance, stating, "We have to improve," and emphasized that he prefers not to compare himself with other players, indicating that he aims to contribute to the team in ways beyond just scoring goals. He acknowledged Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's preference for him to contribute more to the team's overall success, saying he would accept fewer goals if it led to winning titles, but he believes scoring and winning are not mutually exclusive.
Mourinho, who previously led Inter Milan to Champions League victory in 2010, expressed his desire for his players to recover from their recent 1-0 defeat against Real Betis in La Liga. He stated, "I want to win. I could tell you I want to play well, but I don’t want to play well like we did against Betis and lose."
Inter coach Cristian Chivu, who played under Mourinho during the 2010 final, praised Mourinho, calling him a "winner" and noted that he was fortunate to have encountered him. Chivu expressed confidence that Real Madrid would have a successful season.