France head coach Zinedine Zidane has firmly stated that Kylian Mbappé deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or award. The Real Madrid legend made the comments in a recent interview with Telefoot, where he was asked about the prestigious honour.
Mbappé finished second in the Ballon d'Or ranking this year, behind winner Harry Kane. In his response, Zidane acknowledged that Mbappé was disappointed by not winning the award, but insisted he truly deserved to take home the trophy.
"As for the Ballon d'Or, everyone has their preferences for the winner," Zidane said via Diario AS. "Mbappé finished second; you just have to accept the results. Mbappé was disappointed, because he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or, that is for sure."
Mbappé has been performing exceptionally well for Real Madrid since his move from Paris Saint-Germain. As the France captain, he also won the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing as the tournament's top scorer. His consistent form at both club and international level has only strengthened the case for him to be recognised with the Ballon d'Or.
The debate over who truly deserves the award continues, with fans and pundits alike weighing in on the merits of each contender. For now, Zidane's endorsement of Mbappé adds weight to those arguing that the French forward's contributions throughout the season warrant the top prize.