Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has welcomed the growing conversation surrounding his chances for the Ballon d’Or, following a record-breaking performance for France at this summer’s World Cup. The French captain netted 10 goals during the tournament to claim the Golden Boot and finished fourth overall, bringing his career World Cup tally to 22 goals and making him the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
Speaking to reporters, the 27-year-old admitted it was only natural for expectations to rise given his status at the world’s most prestigious club. “I think that when you play for Real Madrid… naturally people associate you with that kind of award,” Mbappe said. “A lot of people… talk to me about the Ballon d’Or… Of course, I made a lot of history this summer, but we’ll see. It’s a good year for that, but there’s still a long time to go.”
Despite his prolific scoring since joining Los Blancos in 2024, the club has yet to secure a major trophy during his first two seasons. The team faces a pivotal moment on Tuesday as they host Inter Milan in the opening match of the Champions League league phase at the Santiago Bernabeu. This fixture also carries historical weight for Inter coach Jose Mourinho, who previously led Inter to Champions League glory in 2010 before his tenure at Real Madrid.
Mourinho dismissed the notion that past friendships would influence his tactics during the match. “During the game I want to win… there won’t be time to think about things from a wonderful past,” he stated. His counterpart, Inter’s Cristian Chivu, praised Mourinho as a “special person” and a winner, recalling his own experience playing under him in that 2010 final.
On the pitch, Mbappe has addressed criticism regarding his defensive contribution, particularly when compared to peers like Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha. While acknowledging room for improvement, he rejected the idea that goal-scoring ability negates other requirements. “I don’t like comparisons because I think I do a lot of things that others don’t do,” he explained.
Mourinho recently suggested he would prefer fewer goals from Mbappe if it meant securing silverware, a sentiment the Frenchman acknowledged but did not fully accept. “I’d take 30 goals with titles, yes, but… for me it’s an absurd debate,” Mbappe said. “You don’t have to choose, you can do both things.”
Mourinho is now focused on reversing Real Madrid’s early-season struggles, following a 1-0 La Liga defeat to Real Betis on Friday. “I want to win,” the Portuguese coach insisted. “I could tell you I want to play well, but I don’t want to play well like we did against Betis and lose.”
Mourinho’s mindset is clear: wins matter more than individual glory. He’s right to push Mbappe to contribute defensively if it means silverware.
Mbappe is chasing history, but Real Madrid really needs that first trophy with him. The pressure is finally mounting for the Bernabeu.