Kylian Mbappé, the human highlight reel currently tearing up the field for Real Madrid, has a question for you: Is it his year for the Ballon d'Or? His answer, naturally, is yes. Because when you're scoring a frankly ridiculous number of goals and shattering World Cup records, people tend to notice.
Mbappé, who is somehow still only 27, just wrapped up a World Cup where he netted ten goals, securing the Golden Boot. France, his home country, ended up in fourth place, which is a bit like getting a participation trophy after single-handedly winning the sprint. More impressively, he’s now scored 22 goals across all World Cups, making him the tournament’s all-time top scorer. Let that satisfying number sink in.
He hasn't yet snagged the coveted Ballon d’Or, given to the world's best player. But playing for Real Madrid, he notes, comes with certain expectations. "People naturally connect you with awards like that," he told reporters. And honestly, who’s going to argue with the guy who just made history in the biggest sporting event on the planet?
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Start Your News DetoxThe Team vs. The Goal Machine
Since joining Real Madrid in 2024, Mbappé has been busy doing what he does best: scoring. Lots of goals. The slight hitch? Real Madrid hasn't exactly been drowning in major trophies. Which, for a club that considers anything less than global domination a mild inconvenience, is a problem.
Now, as the 15-time European champions prepare to face Inter Milan in the Champions League group stage, there's a whisper: is Mbappé too focused on his own stats? He's been compared to other star players who seemingly contribute more to team cohesion. But Mbappé isn't having it. "I could pretend and say I score more goals than them, and they need to score more to be like me," he quipped, before adding a more diplomatic, "I do have to improve. But I don’t like comparisons because I think I do many things others don’t."
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who knows a thing or two about winning, recently suggested he'd prefer fewer Mbappé goals if it meant more team titles. Mbappé, ever the diplomat, says he'd accept lower numbers if it meant trophies. But he also thinks it's a "silly debate." Why choose when you can have both? A fair point from a man who seems to defy the laws of probability on the pitch.
Speaking of Mourinho, the veteran coach will be facing his former club, Inter Milan, whom he led to a Champions League victory in 2010. He’s all smiles and nostalgia before and after the game, but during the match? "I want to win," he stated. Because for some, winning isn't just a goal; it's a way of life. And for Mbappé, it seems, it’s a non-negotiable part of the package.
