Mbappe embraces Ballon d’Or talk after historic World Cup exploits

Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid's star striker, expressed that it is natural for people to consider him a potential Ballon d'Or winner after his outstanding World Cup performance. The France captain, 27, scored 10 goals in the tournament, clinching the Golden Boot, and has a career-high 22 goals, making him the World Cup's all-time top scorer. Despite not winning the prestigious award yet, Mbappe acknowledged that many fans and fellow players talk about him in this regard.

Real Madrid, Mbappe's club, has yet to secure a major trophy since his arrival in 2024. During his first two years at the club, the team has struggled to play cohesively, with star players like him and Vinicius Junior facing criticism for not contributing enough to the team effort. Mbappe admitted that the team needs to improve, but he wants to focus on intelligent self-improvement rather than making comparisons with other players.

Mbappe also addressed Mourinho's preference for fewer goals if it meant more titles, stating that he would accept lower goal counts if they led to victories. However, he emphasized that scoring goals and winning titles are not mutually exclusive. Mourinho, who previously led Inter Milan to Champions League glory, expressed his desire for his Madrid players to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and secure a win against Inter Milan in the Champions League.