Mbappe has 'good feeling' about Ballon d'Or chances

Kylian Mbappe says he has "a good feeling" about his chances of winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or, having scored prolifically for Real Madrid last season and for France at the World Cup.

The award will be handed out at October's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.

Mbappe, who became the World Cup's all-time record goalscorer and won his second Golden Boot after netting 10 times in this summer's tournament, is amongst the contenders to be named the best player in the world.

Harry Kane is the bookmakers' favourite to win the award, though, having scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich last season and a further 12 for his country.

The England captain discussed his chances in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports' Owen Hargreaves.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique, meanwhile, has insisted the victor should be from his team after a second successive UEFA Champions League trophy. Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabian Ruiz are all potential winners.

Elsewhere, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Rodri, having won the World Cup with Spain, will hope for recognition, as will Jude Bellingham, Michael Olise and Lionel Messi, the latter having shone once again with Argentina on the biggest stage.

But Mbappe, who has yet to win a Ballon d'Or, suggested he expects to be one of the frontrunners.

"I think that when you play for Real Madrid, it naturally associates you with this type of award," he said in a press conference before his side's Champions League opener against Internazionale on Tuesday.

"Of course, when I see many people on the street talk to me about the Ballon d’Or, that is very positive.

"I have made a lot of history in the most important competition in this sport, and I have a good feeling, but people have the power to choose.

"I always think about [being considered the best player in the world], but it is something that is very personal, and everyone has their opinion. It’s not a debate you have to have because everyone can’t think like me.

"This year may be a good year for me to win the Ballon d’Or, but it’s the journalists who are going to vote."

A trophy-less 2025/26 season for Real Madrid might prove damaging for Mbappe, even though he scored 42 goals in 44 matches for Los Blancos.

The Spanish giants saw managers Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa come and go amid rumours of player discontent, before José Mourinho returned for a second spell in the summer.

• Mbappe plays down Madrid dressing room concerns

Real Madrid won their first three games of the new La Liga season, but fell to a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis last time out.

Asked if the atmosphere at the club is now better than it was last season, Mbappe said: "What does ​an improvement in the dressing room mean?

"Do you have the feeling that something wasn't right last year? No, it's the same as last year. It's true we have a different coach, but it's the same."

Mbappe and Real Madrid will begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, hoping to wrestle back European dominance from PSG.

"We want to win every match, ‌every ⁠competition," Mourinho said in his press conference. "But you have to work to accomplish stability.

"So Real Madrid need to reach that stability that is so important to achieve something great. But Real Madrid are Real Madrid; you need to win here no matter what."