Former Paris Saint-Germain winger Jérôme Rothen has warned that Kylian Mbappé could face intense criticism and pressure if he wins the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Rothen made the remarks while discussing Mbappé’s public campaign for the prestigious individual award on his programme, Rothen s’enflamme. The former France international has been critical of the Real Madrid forward’s decision to openly discuss his desire to win the prize.
Mbappé has repeatedly spoken about his Ballon d’Or ambitions in recent interviews. In a recent interview with RFI, he said he would be disappointed if he did not win the award, while maintaining that the prize was not an obsession for him.
The France captain has also said he would vote for himself for the award, arguing that he had a strong individual season.
Rothen has questioned the wisdom of such public campaigning, particularly because the Ballon d’Or is decided by votes from journalists. He previously argued that Mbappé’s lack of major team trophies in the 2025/26 season could affect his case for the award.
Mbappé is among the leading names on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist, alongside players including Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal. The winner will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.
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