According to a report by GOAL on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe remains in a positive mental state despite his recent disappointment at the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards and the controversy surrounding his comments in China, according to France international Ibrahima Konate.

Mbappe recently experienced a setback after finishing second behind England captain Harry Kane in the race for the prestigious individual award.

The French superstar had been among the favourites to win the honour following his impressive performances, but Kane eventually emerged as the winner. Despite the disappointment, Konate has maintained that his international teammate has handled the situation positively.

Speaking ahead of France's upcoming Nations League fixtures, Konate said Mbappe was in a very good frame of mind, pointing to his recent displays as evidence that he had moved on from the setback.

"He's in a very good frame of mind; you can see that from his recent matches," Konate explained, as quoted by Reuters.

"He's been decisive. He's absolutely vital for us in Madrid."

Konate admitted that missing out on the Ballon d'Or was difficult for Mbappe, especially because the forward believed he had a genuine chance of winning the award.

However, he revealed that the 27-year-old did not allow the disappointment to interfere with his professional commitments, returning to training the following day with full concentration.

"He's a competitor, so of course not winning the Ballon d'Or when he thought he had a chance is difficult," Konate added.

"But the next day he was fully focused in training."

Beyond the Ballon d'Or disappointment, Mbappe has also faced criticism over a controversy involving his comments about an online meme in China.

The incident reportedly attracted significant backlash after the Real Madrid forward made a remark about a meme that placed his face on an image of Mao Zedong, China's founding leader.

Mbappe subsequently issued an apology, while several brands reportedly terminated their commercial partnerships with him following the controversy.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also removed Spanish league matches from its schedule, adding to the pressure surrounding the incident.

Despite the criticism and challenges, Konate believes Mbappe has shown the mental strength needed to overcome difficult situations.

The France captain will now have an opportunity to put the recent distractions behind him as he returns to the national team for their upcoming Nations League matches.

France are scheduled to face Italy on November 12 before taking on Turkey, with Mbappe expected to play a key role in the team's attack.

The forward missed France's previous three matches because of injury but has now returned to the squad and is ready to represent his country.

His comeback will attract attention as France look to benefit from his goals, creativity and leadership in the upcoming fixtures.

For Mbappe, the immediate task will be to maintain his impressive form at Real Madrid while helping France secure positive results.

Although finishing second in the Ballon d'Or voting was a disappointment, Konate's remarks suggest that the setback has not weakened the forward's determination.

The Real Madrid star will now be looking to respond on the pitch and put a challenging period behind him.