Kylian Mbappé believes 2026 could finally be the year he wins the Ballon d’Or — but the Real Madrid forward knows the decision will ultimately be in the hands of journalists.

The France captain enters the race after another remarkable individual campaign, even though Real Madrid ended last season without a major trophy.

Kylian Mbappé said he believes playing for Real Madrid naturally puts him in the Ballon d’Or conversation, with the club preparing to begin its Champions League campaign against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mbappé said he had made history in the most important competition and suggested the current year could give him a strong opportunity to claim football's biggest individual prize.

“I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award.”

Mbappé added that voters would ultimately make their own decisions.

“Of course, this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or, but journalists vote.”

The 27-year-old also made it clear that he has enormous confidence in his own ability, saying he considers himself the best player in the world while acknowledging that other people are free to disagree.

“I always think I’m the best [player in the world], but everyone has their own opinion. Maybe people think different ways. I don’t think it’s a discussion we need to have.”

Mbappé's individual numbers give him a strong case. He scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid last season, although the Spanish giants failed to win a trophy.

His performances at the 2026 World Cup in particular strengthened his individual credentials. The France captain scored 10 goals, taking his career total at the World Cup to a record 22 goals.

Mbappé already has a World Cup winner's medal from 2018, when France lifted the trophy in Russia. At the most recent tournament, however, France finished fourth.

Despite his achievements, Mbappé has never won the Ballon d’Or. His best previous finish came in 2023, when he placed third while playing for Paris Saint-Germain.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be awarded on October 26, with several major names currently competing for the honour.

England captain Harry Kane is among the leading contenders after scoring a club-record 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich during a season in which the German club won the domestic double. Kane also scored six goals at the World Cup.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is another leading candidate after helping Barcelona win La Liga and Spain win the World Cup. His Barcelona and Spain teammate Rodri is also among the leading contenders.

Mbappé's next challenge comes in the Champions League, where Real Madrid will begin its campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday. Madrid will be looking to reclaim the European title after two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain won the competition following Mbappé's departure.

The match will also bring a familiar reunion involving José Mourinho, who will face his former club Inter Milan. Mourinho won the Champions League with Inter in 2010 and will now share the dugout with former Inter player Christian Chivu.

Mbappé spent seven seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, winning 17 trophies before moving to Real Madrid. PSG subsequently won the Champions League, something the French forward has yet to achieve with Madrid.

Asked about PSG's recent European success, Mbappé said he could not change what happened after his departure and insisted that he was not concerned by it.

“I can’t change it. The truth is that I really don’t care. I know how to analyse football; I know why.”

He continued:

“I don’t know everything about football, but I know more than most.”

Mbappé remains the all-time leading scorer for both PSG and France. He scored 256 goals in 308 appearances for PSG and has scored 66 goals in 106 matches for the French national team.

His individual record also includes eight consecutive league Golden Boots — six in Ligue 1 and two in La Liga — as well as two World Cup Golden Boots and two Champions League Golden Boots.

However, there are still two major prizes missing from his Real Madrid record: the Champions League trophy and a major club trophy during his first two years at the Bernabéu.

Now, with another Champions League campaign beginning and the Ballon d’Or vote approaching, Mbappé has made his ambition clear: he believes 2026 could finally be his year.

The question now belongs to the voters — will Mbappé's numbers be enough to make him the world's best player on paper as well as in his own eyes?