Kylian Mbappé is awaiting the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 26.
In the meantime, he has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Onze d’Or over the past few hours. Considered by many to be the fans’ Ballon d’Or, the award goes to the Real Madrid striker after a season full of goals but without any major team trophies on his résumé.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is becoming the main topic of conversation across European football. It will be the first major event at which the world’s best players come under the spotlight after Real Madrid and Barcelona face each other in another edition of El Clásico this Sunday. While waiting for the events in London, Kylian Mbappé is celebrating the trophy awarded by Onze Mondial magazine.
The striker has won the 2026 Onze d’Or. This prestigious individual award has been presented by the magazine since 1976 to recognise the best player in Europe. Unlike other honours, this award is decided by votes from readers of the French magazine. The winner is selected as the best player of the previous season, regardless of nationality and based only on achievements throughout the year.
The criteria considered by voters includes goals, trophies, and performances on the international stage. Mbappé is coming off a season without major team honours, but his individual achievements have been impressive. He finished as the top scorer in LaLiga and the Champions League, as well as at the World Cup. He has also established himself as the most prolific goalscorer in the tournament’s history.
“It’s a pleasure to be recognised. It’s a reward for the work I’ve put in throughout the year, and it gives me a great deal of motivation to keep going and do even better,”
the player said, expressing his pride at receiving an award previously won by legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Diego Armando Maradona.
This is no minor accolade in European football. The award is widely regarded as recognizing the best player in Europe over the previous season, with fans having a say in the selection. Despite the lack of team trophies, Mbappé is proud to be considered one of the continent’s most consistent performers over the past season.
“Does the fact that it was voted for by the fans give the trophy, the Onze d’Or, a different meaning? Of course, because ultimately, fans play an important role in football today. And I think that, in part, we play to entertain the fans. So knowing that you’ve managed to provide more entertainment than anyone else is always satisfying,”
said a proud Mbappé, reflecting on his performances for both Real Madrid and the French national team.
This is his first individual award of the current season. Although he won the Golden Boot at the start of the campaign, this is the first honor he has received during the 2026-27 season. In a few days, the Real Madrid striker will also finally discover whether France Football magazine has selected him as the world’s best player by awarding him the Ballon d’Or.
