Why Mbappé Should Win Ballon d’Or – Courtois

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has backed teammate Kylian Mbappé to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that the French forward delivered the best individual performances in football over the past year despite his club’s failure to win major trophies.

Courtois made his position clear during an interview with DAZN on Wednesday, October 21, insisting that individual brilliance should carry significant weight in the race for football’s most prestigious individual award.

“Individually, no player was better than him this year, but sadly, we didn’t win any trophies,” Courtois said, according to reports of the interview.

The Belgian international acknowledged that Real Madrid’s lack of collective success could count against Mbappé, but maintained that his teammate’s performances deserved recognition.

Courtois Praises Mbappé’s Goals and Speed

Courtois’ support for Mbappé centres on the forward’s attacking ability, pace and capacity to influence matches.

Mbappé has built his reputation around explosive acceleration, close control at speed and a consistent threat in front of goal. Those qualities have made him one of the most prominent forwards in world football.

Courtois believes the Ballon d’Or should recognise the player who performs best individually rather than automatically favouring footballers whose teams collect the most silverware.

The goalkeeper has made a similar argument in previous comments, stressing that an individual award should not simply become a reward for belonging to the most successful team.

His position adds to the debate among supporters and football observers over how voters should balance goals, consistency, decisive performances and team achievements.

Lamine Yamal’s Trophies Could Strengthen His Case

Courtois also addressed the challenge posed by Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, whose achievements with his club and Spain have strengthened his standing in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper noted that Yamal won major honours, including the league title with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, while suggesting that Mbappé had performed better individually.

“Lamine Yamal had a worse World Cup than Mbappé, but he won the title and won the league,” Courtois said, according to reports of his interview.

The comparison highlights the competing arguments surrounding the award. Mbappé’s supporters can point to his individual impact, while Yamal’s case benefits from significant team success.

Neither factor automatically settles the debate, as voters must assess the candidates’ performances and achievements over the relevant period.

The Ballon d’Or Debate

The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to the footballer judged to have delivered the outstanding individual performance over the assessment period.

The debate often intensifies when a leading candidate produces exceptional personal statistics without winning major trophies, while another enjoys a successful season with their club or national team.

Courtois believes the award should not be determined solely by the number of titles a player wins. His comments reflect the view that an individual footballer can excel even when the team around him falls short of its objectives.

However, team trophies remain an important part of the discussion because they can demonstrate a player’s contribution to success in major competitions.

The competing arguments leave voters with a familiar question: should the award prioritise the most influential individual performer or the player whose performances were accompanied by the greatest collective achievements?

Ballon d’Or Ceremony Approaches

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, with Mbappé and Yamal among the prominent names in the men’s award conversation. Harry Kane is also among the leading contenders following a prolific season, according to coverage of the nominees.

Courtois’ public backing gives Mbappé support from within Real Madrid, but it does not determine the outcome. The final decision rests with the award’s voting process.

For now, the goalkeeper’s argument is clear: Mbappé should be judged on the quality of his individual performances, not simply on the trophies his team failed to win.

Source: Punch Newspapers; The Parisien; Cadena SER.