{
  "id": 6847740,
  "title": "Mbappe: 'I can still win Ballon d'Or despite barren season'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/mbappe-i-can-still-win-ballon-dor-despite-barren-season",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T02:31:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1531018/mbappe-i-can-still-win-ballon-dor-despite-barren-season"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kylian Mbappe expressed confidence he could still win the Ballon d'Or despite a lack of club and country success during the season. Speaking to France Football, the 27-year-old French football star hailed new France coach Zinedine Zidane and argued his performances warranted recognition as the world's best player. Despite not winning any trophies with Real Madrid and France's semi-final exit against Spain in the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe scored 15 goals in the Champions League and 25 in La Liga, becoming the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals. He emphasized that individual awards like the Ballon d'Or always come with detractors, noting that no winner has ever received 100% of the vote. Mbappe's approach to winning the award is influenced by the Messi and Ronaldo era, asserting that he did unique things this year that set him apart. He was confident he was the best player, citing his World Cup tally and all-time leading goal scorer record as testaments to his achievements. Mbappe praised Zidane, describing him as a national legend and an iconic figure who brought elegance and greatness to French football.",
  "summary": "LONDON: Kylian Mbappe said he still believed he was worthy of the Ballon d’Or award despite failing to win any silverware with Real Madrid during the season, while France’s World Cup campaign ended with a semi-final defeat by Spain.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "2026 Ballon d’Or: There’s no one better – Mbappe picks player to win award",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/2026-ballon-dor-theres-no-one-better-mbappe-picks-player-to-win-award",
        "published": "2026-09-11T21:17:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "I can still win Ballon d'Or despite barren season, says Mbappe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/i-can-still-win-ballon-dor-despite-barren-season-says-mbappe",
        "published": "2026-09-11T22:33:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "I can still win Ballon d’Or despite barren season, says Mbappe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/i-can-still-win-ballon-dor-despite-barren-season-says-mbappe",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:32:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Real Madrid’s Mbappe confident of Ballon d’Or despite trophyless season",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/real-madrids-mbappe-confident-of-ballon-dor-despite-trophyless-season",
        "published": "2026-09-12T09:53:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}