Spain's World Cup win could boost Mbappe's Ballon d'Or hopes

Kylian Mbappe, the France and Real Madrid striker, has seen his prospects improve in the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, awarded by France Football to the world's best player, after finishing the World Cup with 10 goals. French newspaper L'Equipe noted that Spain's World Cup triumph could lead to votes being divided among several of its standout players, potentially benefiting the French captain.

L'Equipe predicted that Spain's collective achievement at the 2026 World Cup could indirectly give Mbappe an edge in the Ballon d'Or race, as voters may split their choices among multiple La Roja players who delivered impressive performances during the tournament.

Several Spanish internationals have emerged as strong Ballon d'Or contenders, led by Manchester City's Rodri, Barcelona's rising star Lamine Yamal, and Fabian Ruiz, who won the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain.

The newspaper reported on a poll with more than 35,000 participants, in which Mbappe led with around 32% of the votes, followed by Rodri with 16% and Fabian Ruiz with 12.7%.

L'Equipe argued that having several prominent Spanish candidates after their World Cup win could result in votes being spread among them, rather than concentrated on a single name—a scenario that may give Mbappe an advantage in the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Although Mbappe ended the season without any team trophies with Real Madrid or France, he achieved a series of individual milestones, most notably winning the European Golden Shoe as the continent's top scorer for the 2025-2026 season, topping the La Liga scoring charts, and finishing as the 2026 World Cup's leading scorer with 10 goals, two ahead of Lionel Messi.

The newspaper emphasized that Ballon d'Or criteria are not limited to team titles, but also include individual performance, on-field impact, and consistency throughout the season—factors that could strengthen Mbappe's chances if votes are split among Spain's stars.