Kylian Mbappé has officially begun his campaign for the Ballon d’Or 2026, stating in a detailed interview with France Football that he believes he was the best player of the 2025 season. The French international, who leads the national team, defended his chances for the prestigious award, citing his accomplishments, including being the top scorer in the World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and La Liga. Mbappé claimed that no player outperformed him this season and pointed to his record of scoring 22 goals in the World Cup, which he says has never been achieved before. Mbappé acknowledged that critics would likely focus on aspects of his performance they choose to highlight. However, he noted that his ability to generate excitement through public statements is a rare quality in football. He also addressed the absence of major team trophies in his career since 2018, emphasizing that the Ballon d’Or is an individual award. Mbappé explained that he has considered himself the best player in the world in certain years, regardless of whether others won the award. The 25-year-old forward discussed his relationship with criticism, noting that as players reach higher levels, it becomes more difficult to please everyone. He mentioned that his defensive runs are often scrutinized more than his goal-scoring or creative contributions. Mbappé stated that a player who scores goals will never be a problem for a team, even if the team does not win titles with him at the forefront of the attack. His comments come as he aims to build a case for the Ballon d’Or, a trophy he has previously won in 2022.