According to a report by ESPN on Monday, November 9, 2026, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed that Kylian Mbappe deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or ahead of Harry Kane, following the French forward's remarkable performances during the 2025/26 season.

Zidane expressed his support for Mbappe despite Kane eventually claiming the prestigious individual honour. The England captain finished ahead of the Real Madrid attacker in the voting, leaving the French international in second place and still waiting to secure his first Ballon d’Or trophy.

Speaking in an interview with Telefoot, Zidane admitted that selecting the best player in the world can be difficult because several footballers deliver outstanding performances throughout a season. However, he maintained that Mbappe had done enough to merit the award based on his individual contributions.

The 27-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign with Real Madrid, scoring 42 goals across all competitions. His remarkable performances also earned him the Pichichi Trophy after finishing as the highest goalscorer in La Liga.

Mbappe equally demonstrated his quality on the international stage during the 2026 World Cup. The French forward finished the competition as its leading goalscorer and played an important role in helping France progress to the semi-finals.

Unfortunately for the French national team, their journey came to an end following a defeat against Spain. The Spanish side subsequently went on to lift the World Cup trophy after an impressive tournament.

Despite Mbappe's individual achievements, Real Madrid's inability to win a major trophy during the 2025/26 campaign reportedly affected his chances of securing the Ballon d’Or. Kane benefited from his own impressive performances for club and country to finish top of the voting.

Nevertheless, Mbappe has continued to demonstrate his scoring ability in the ongoing campaign. The French superstar has already registered 17 goals in 16 competitive appearances for Real Madrid, further highlighting his importance to the Spanish giants.

Zidane has also previously spoken about how Mbappe should be utilised at Real Madrid, suggesting that the forward would benefit from having the freedom to play in his preferred attacking position rather than being limited to the traditional centre-forward role.

The former France international's latest comments have reignited discussions about the 2026 Ballon d’Or results. While Kane has received the official recognition, Mbappe's impressive statistics, domestic achievements and performances at the World Cup provide strong arguments for those who believe he deserved to finish ahead of the England striker.

Ultimately, Zidane's position reflects the ongoing debate over whether individual statistics, team achievements or performances in major competitions should carry greater importance when determining the world's best footballer.