France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe said on Tuesday that he is confident of winning the Ballon d’Or after a season in which he finished as the leading scorer in several major competitions.
The 27-year-old scored 25 goals in La Liga, 15 in the Champions League and 10 at the World Cup. His performances at the tournament in the summer also made him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, with 22 goals.
Mbappe, however, ended the season without a major team trophy. France were eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals, while Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Despite that record, Mbappe believes his individual performances could strengthen his case for football’s most prestigious individual award.
“They won’t announce a team in the envelope, they will announce a player,” Mbappe told RFI radio.
“The ability to perform individually and produce eye-catching moments, that’s what stands out to people for an award like this.
“I was top scorer in all the biggest competitions and I think that this could be a good year for me, and I really feel it.”
Mbappe joined Real Madrid after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and continued his prolific scoring form during his first full season with the Spanish club. His 25 league goals made him one of the leading scorers in Europe, while his Champions League campaign added another 15 goals.
His World Cup campaign provided another significant milestone. Mbappe’s 10 goals at the tournament took his career total at the competition to 22, moving him past the previous record of 21 goals.
The Ballon d’Or race includes several players who won major trophies during the season. Barcelona forwards Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres won La Liga with the Spanish club and also lifted the World Cup with Spain.
Paris Saint-Germain players Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also enter the contest after winning Ligue 1 and the Champions League. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the Bundesliga with the German club.
Mbappe’s lack of team silverware could therefore be a significant factor in the voting, although the award is decided on individual performances as well as achievements during the season.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26, when the winner will be announced alongside the other individual awards.
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