Kylian Mbappé didn’t hold back during the FIFA international break. Asked about the Ballon d’Or and the Champions League, the Real Madrid forward answered straight up. For him, the top favorite for the individual award is his national team teammate Ousmane Dembélé, who stood out for PSG last season. “Does he deserve it? For me, yes. I hope he wins. I’ve supported him from the start,” Mbappé told the French channel Téléfoot.
And when the subject turned to the next Champions League, the French star left no doubts: “When people ask me who’s going to win the Champions League, I always say it will be Real Madrid,” he told the German outlet Bild.
The message in Mbappé’s words
By saying Dembélé deserves the Ballon d’Or, Mbappé stirred the conversation. Dembélé was a key player in PSG’s Champions League triumph and earned the spotlight in a team full of big names. But hearing this come from Mbappé, the star of powerhouse Real Madrid, changes the tone. It’s not just a compliment, it’s a public endorsement from one of the biggest stars on the planet.
His words also reveal something deeper. Mbappé could have dodged the question, like so many others have, but he chose to give his opinion. It shows a different posture, more open, giving the impression of someone who recognizes his teammate’s brilliance while at the same time taking some of the weight off his own shoulders. It’s a smart move for his image: it values the group, shows generosity, and reinforces the idea of shared leadership.
Of course, there’s also a political read. If the logic of the award is to reward individual performance and collective achievement, Dembélé has solid arguments. But what Mbappé did was give that favoritism a narrative, putting his compatriot under the spotlight. And in modern soccer, narrative counts almost as much as statistics.
Confidence in Real Madrid
If his words about the Ballon d’Or surprised some, his take on the Champions League came with conviction. By stating Real Madrid will win, Mbappé not only shows confidence but also takes on enormous responsibility. The team disappointed last season, failing to win major titles and leaving the impression that it needed renewal. Now, with the Frenchman settled in the squad, the expectation is for a more aggressive and dominant Real Madrid.