According to a report by ESPN on Monday, November 9, 2026, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has expressed his belief that Kylian Mbappe deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or ahead of Harry Kane. His comments have reignited discussions about the outcome of the prestigious award, which saw the England international finish ahead of the French superstar.

Kane eventually claimed the individual honour after receiving more votes than Mbappe, who finished second. The result prevented the Real Madrid forward from securing the first Ballon d’Or of his career despite an outstanding individual campaign.

Speaking during an interview with Telefoot, Zidane acknowledged the difficulty involved in selecting the best footballer in the world, particularly because several players regularly produce exceptional performances. Nevertheless, the former France international maintained that Mbappe's achievements during the 2025/26 season were sufficient to make him a deserving winner.

The 27-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign with Real Madrid, scoring 42 goals across all competitions. His consistency in front of goal also earned him the Pichichi Trophy after he finished as La Liga's leading goalscorer.

Mbappe carried that impressive form into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he emerged as the competition's top scorer. His goals helped France progress to the semi-finals before their campaign ended following a defeat against Spain.

Spain subsequently went on to win the tournament, completing an impressive World Cup campaign. Despite Mbappe's individual achievements on the international stage, his failure to secure a major trophy with Real Madrid during the 2025/26 season reportedly affected his chances in the Ballon d’Or voting.

Kane, on the other hand, received greater recognition from voters after delivering impressive performances for both his club and England. His overall contribution during the assessment period ultimately helped him finish ahead of the French forward.

However, Mbappe's performances have continued to attract attention this season. The Real Madrid attacker has already scored 17 goals in 16 competitive appearances, demonstrating that his influence on the Spanish side remains significant.

Zidane has also previously shared his thoughts about how Mbappe should be utilised at Real Madrid. The former manager suggested that the Frenchman should be allowed sufficient freedom to operate in his preferred attacking position rather than being restricted to the traditional centre-forward role.

The latest comments from Zidane have added another dimension to the debate surrounding the 2026 Ballon d’Or. While Kane has officially secured the award, Mbappe's goalscoring achievements, domestic recognition and World Cup performances have provided strong arguments in favour of his candidacy.

Ultimately, the disagreement highlights the different standards used when evaluating football's most prestigious individual award. While some place greater importance on personal statistics and individual brilliance, others consider collective trophies and overall contributions to successful campaigns equally important.