According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday, November 8, 2026, France head coach Zinedine Zidane has insisted that Kylian Mbappé deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or despite finishing second behind Harry Kane in the final rankings.

The Real Madrid forward missed out on the prestigious individual award after Bayern Munich striker Kane was named the winner of the 2026 edition.

However, Zidane believes Mbappé produced enough outstanding performances over the past year to earn recognition as the world's best player.

During a recent interview with Telefoot, the former Real Madrid manager was asked to comment on the Ballon d'Or result and the French captain's second-place finish.

Zidane acknowledged that football supporters and observers have different opinions when selecting the winner but maintained that Mbappé deserved to receive the award.

"As for the Ballon d’Or, everyone has their preferences for the winner.

"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," Zidane said, as quoted by Diario AS.

Mbappé has enjoyed an impressive period at Real Madrid since completing his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, continuing to establish himself as one of the club's most important attacking players.

The France international has consistently demonstrated his goalscoring ability and influence in the team's attacking play, further strengthening his reputation in Spanish football.

His impressive form has also extended to the international stage, where he achieved another major individual milestone during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 27-year-old finished the tournament as the leading goalscorer, earning the Golden Boot award.

That achievement further demonstrated his attacking quality and added weight to the argument that he deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Despite his outstanding individual performances, Mbappé ultimately had to settle for second place, with Kane receiving the highest number of votes from the award's voters.