Lamine Yamal vs Mbappé: Who really deserves Ballon d’Or after both claimed they’re the best?
By William Muthama, September 15, 2026As the Ballon d’Or 2026 race reaches its climax, two of football’s biggest stars, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, have made their cases clear.
Both believe they belong at the top of world football, but they are making their arguments from very different directions.
Yamal points to trophies and influence. Mbappé points to goals and individual dominance.
Yamal was particularly direct about his chances, saying he believes he and Mbappé are the two best players in the world and that his trophy haul should give him the advantage.
“I honestly believe there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I’d deserve it because of what I’ve won… Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. It’s clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it,” Yamal said.
Mbappé, however, has made an equally confident case for himself.
The Real Madrid forward said he would vote for himself and insisted that no player had a better individual campaign than he did.
“Nobody did better than me last season,” Mbappé said.
He also pointed to the history he made at the World Cup, saying he had “made a lot of history in the most important competition in the sport.”
With the Ballon d’Or ceremony set for 26 October in London, the question is simple: who had the better season?
Yamal’s case: Trophies tell the story
Yamal’s strongest argument is what he won.
The Barcelona star helped his club secure La Liga, finishing the league campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists. Across all club competitions, he recorded 24 goals and 17 assists in 45 appearances.
Then came the biggest prize.
Yamal played a role in Spain’s World Cup triumph, featuring throughout their campaign and playing the full 120 minutes in the final.
His World Cup numbers were not spectacular: one goal and no assists, but his supporters argue that the Ballon d’Or is not simply a Golden Boot award.
At just 18, Yamal finished the season as a La Liga champion and World Cup winner, and was also named the league’s Player of the Season.
That is the foundation of his claim.
Mbappé’s case: Numbers are difficult to ignore
Mbappé’s argument is almost the opposite.
The Real Madrid forward produced a staggering 42 goals in 44 club appearances, including 25 in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League.
He then carried that scoring form onto the World Cup stage.
Mbappé scored 10 goals and four assists, won the Golden Boot and moved to 22 career World Cup goals, becoming the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
He also finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup.
The major weakness in his résumé is obvious: no major team trophy.
Real Madrid did not win La Liga or the Champions League, while France failed to win the World Cup.
For Mbappé, however, that does not diminish his individual campaign.
His argument is straightforward: if the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best player, then his numbers should carry enormous weight.
Who should win the Ballon d’Or?
If the award is primarily about individual performance, Mbappé has the stronger argument.
But if voters place greater importance on winning major trophies while remaining an elite individual performer, Yamal may have the edge.
And that could be decisive.
Yamal’s season represents the classic Ballon d’Or story: a young superstar, major trophies, individual recognition and decisive contributions on the biggest stages.
Mbappé’s season represents something equally compelling: extraordinary scoring numbers, records and dominance across virtually every competition he entered.
Ultimately, the Ballon d’Or vote may come down to one question:
Do you reward the player who scored more, or the player who won more?