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Ex-France Football editor Pascal Ferré has suggested that Kylian Mbappé's Ballon d'Or campaign has not been "effective," while revealing he would cast his vote for a different candidate.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or, widely regarded as football's most prestigious individual accolade, will be presented at a ceremony in London on Monday, Oct. 26. The award, organized by French publication France Football and decided by 100 journalists worldwide, is designed to honor the finest player of the preceding year.
Real Madrid and France forward Mbappé is considered one of the leading contenders for this year's prize, having finished as top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup—where he also etched his name in history as the tournament's all-time top scorer.
Amid intense rivalry, several of the top candidates have been actively lobbying for the award, with Mbappé publicly championing his own case through a string of high-profile interviews.
"Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, surpassing every great legend before me, in the most prestigious tournament sport has ever produced, is truly extraordinary," he told France Football.
"Finishing as the leading scorer across all major competitions, where the world's best players go head-to-head, is meaningful. I'm not sure it's ever been done before. I believe history should always be acknowledged."
Confirmed Shortlists
• Ballon d'Or Nominees (Men's and Women's)
• Kopa Trophy Nominees (Men's and Women's
• Yashin Trophy Nominees (Men's and Women's Goalkeeper of the Year)
• Club of the Year Nominees (Men's and Women's
• Coach of the Year Nominees (Men's and Women's)
Former Ballon d'Or Chief Unconvinced by Mbappé
Nevertheless, Ferré—the man who effectively oversaw the Ballon d'Or between 1996 and 2023—believes that Mbappé's media push will have had little sway over the voters.
He told MARCA: "I honestly feel Kylian's campaign is far more aggressive than Lamine's [Yamal]. In my view, a Ballon d'Or isn't something you demand—it's something you deserve."
"From what I've gathered from some of the jurors I still keep in touch with, these things carry absolutely no weight. They are entirely independent, seasoned professionals who don't need to be told why they should vote for one player over another."
"Honestly, I don't believe Kylian's campaign has been particularly effective. But we'll find out on the night."
Ferré also conceded that he personally would not have voted for Mbappé had he been eligible to vote this year, "even though he's a tremendous player."
"Because among the 30 nominees, he was one of the very few who hadn't claimed any titles with his club," he added. "It strikes me as odd to be considered the world's best player without winning anything this season. He's clearly a great player, but I'm not convinced the top prize should go to someone who hasn't lifted any team trophies, domestically or at the World Cup. Football remains a collective sport, and not winning suggests we weren't strong enough as a unit. That's my personal view."
Who Are Mbappé's Top Challengers for the Ballon d'Or?
Voting has now closed for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, though the outcome won't be revealed for some time. Traditionally, the winner's name surfaces ahead of the ceremony itself, making the gala more of a celebration than a genuine reveal.
Mbappé is listed as the third-favorite for the prize by most bookmakers, trailing only Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane and Barcelona and Spain winger Yamal.
Kane claimed both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2025–26 and delivered a remarkable 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country. In doing so, the England skipper became the first player since Lionel Messi in 2011–12 to breach the 70-goal threshold in a single campaign.
Yamal, meanwhile, was crowned La Liga Player of the Year after steering Barcelona to the league title, and also lifted the World Cup with Spain over the summer.
Should Mbappé claim the award, he would become the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013 to win it without securing any club honours in the same year.