Claude Makelele, the former Chelsea star, believes France captain Kylian Mbappe deserves to take home the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Speaking to Marca, Makelele lauded the forward as a generational talent, specifically highlighting his exceptional play during the World Cup.
While Makelele acknowledged that Mbappe’s trophy count with Real Madrid this season was modest, he insisted that his international display was enough to merit the prestigious individual prize. The veteran midfielder went as far as to compare him to the legendary Ronaldo Nazario, noting that Mbappe is the definitive phenomenon of his era. He emphasized that the striker still has room to grow, which makes his current level of play even more impressive.
As the race for the award heats up, Mbappe is projected to face stiff competition from players such as Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele.
