Although the identity of the winner remains closely guarded, the Bondy-born forward arrived at the London ceremony brimming with confidence. "I haven't prepared a speech in case I win the Ballon d'Or, that brings bad luck... but I think everything will turn out fine," Mbappé told 'L'Équipe'.

The Frenchman regards Harry Kane as his main competitor for the coveted accolade, conceding that the England striker would also be a worthy recipient. "If Kane wins the award? It would be well deserved," he noted.

Before heading inside the London Palladium Theatre, Mbappé also delivered a defiant message to his critics. "You can't make everyone love you. I am not going to change. I don't care about being criticised," he declared.