**Title: Real Madrid’s Mbappe Confident of Ballon d’Or Despite Trophyless Season**
Kylian Mbappe, the star forward for Real Madrid, has expressed his belief that he remains a strong contender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, despite a season devoid of silverware for both his club and the French national team. In an interview with France Football, the 27-year-old highlighted his impressive individual performances, which he believes merit recognition as the world's best player.
Despite Real Madrid's struggles in securing trophies during the season, Mbappe pointed to his personal achievements as justification for his candidacy for the Ballon d’Or. He scored a remarkable 15 goals in the UEFA Champions League and netted 25 goals in La Liga. Additionally, he made history by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, reaching a total of 22 goals, although France's World Cup campaign ended in disappointment with a semifinal defeat to Spain.
“I believe I can win it this year. It’s one of my goals, and a short-term one at that,” Mbappe stated, addressing the criticism regarding his lack of team success. He emphasized that the Ballon d’Or is an individual accolade and noted that no winner has ever received unanimous support. “Has anyone ever won with 100% of the vote? That means there’s always someone who thought the winner didn’t deserve it,” he remarked.
Mbappe's confidence stems from his belief that he has made significant contributions on the field that set him apart from other players. He referenced the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, stating, “You don’t give it to ordinary players, you give it to players who are different. I think I did things that were different this year, so I believe I can win it.”
When asked if he felt deserving of the award, he was unequivocal. “There was no player better than me. We were talking about achievements. To score that many goals in the major competitions, where all the great players are, and of course at the World Cup, the biggest event, to become the competition’s all-time leading scorer – throughout my holidays, that was all people talked to me about,” he asserted.
Mbappe's historic accomplishment of surpassing Messi's World Cup goal tally adds an additional layer of significance to his claim. “It’s even more special because you take the record from Leo Messi, who for many people is the greatest player in history alongside Cristiano (Ronaldo). It’s fantastic. That kind of achievement is different,” he added.
In addition to discussing his personal ambitions, Mbappe praised the recent appointment of Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of the French national team. Zidane, a 1998 World Cup winner, is regarded as a legendary figure in French football and is celebrated for his contributions both as a player and a coach. “For French people, he means a great deal – he’s a legend, he’s the nation’s ‘Zizou’, he represents elegance, greatness,” Mbappe said. He acknowledged Zidane's impact on the national team and expressed enthusiasm for the new direction under his leadership.
As the football world anticipates the announcement of this year's Ballon d’Or winner, Mbappe's confidence and impressive track record make him a compelling candidate, even in the absence of team accolades. His ability to perform at the highest level in major competitions has solidified his status as one of the elite players in the sport today.