Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has named Kylian Mbappé as his preferred choice for the Ballon d’Or, saying the French forward had the best individual performance in football over the past year.

Speaking to DAZN on Wednesday, Courtois admitted that Mbappé’s chances of winning the award could be affected by his failure to win major trophies during the period.

He said, “Individually, no player was better than him this year, but sadly, we didn’t win any trophies.”

The Belgian goalkeeper also compared Mbappé’s performance with that of Barcelona’s young star, Lamine Yamal, noting that the Spaniard’s success in winning trophies could give him an advantage in the race.

Courtois said Yamal had a less impressive World Cup than Mbappé but pointed out that the Barcelona winger won a major title and the league.

His comments have added to the ongoing debate over whether the Ballon d’Or should focus more on individual performances or team achievements.

Mbappé remains one of the biggest names in world football, while Yamal has continued to impress with his performances for Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to the player judged to have delivered the best individual performance, with factors such as achievements, consistency and overall impact often considered in the selection process.