Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said that 2026 could be the year he wins the highly coveted Ballon d’Or award.

While noting that he personally believes he’s the best player in the world, the 27-year-old said people were entitled to their own opinions.

The former PSG star stated this on Monday during a press conference, ahead of his team’s Champions League match with Inter Milan at the Estadio Bernabéu on Tuesday.

Mbappe said, “I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award.

“There are many people who speak about me and the Ballon d’Or. Of course, I’ve made history in the most important competition. Maybe it’s a good year for this, but people can vote according to what they think.”

He added, “I always think I’m the best [player in the world], but everyone has their own opinion. Maybe people think different ways. I don’t think it’s a discussion we need to have.

“Of course, this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or, but journalists vote.”

Mbappe lifted the 2018 World Cup with France, but finished fourth in the last edition, behind defending champions Spain, first runner-up Argentina and third-placed England.

The France captain bagged 10 goals, taking his career tally at World Cups to a record 22. He also scored 42 goals in 44 games for Madrid last season, but they did not win any trophies.

According to BBC Sport on Monday, the highest Mbappe has finished in the Ballon d’Or rankings is third in 2023, when he was a PSG player.

Three players are given shorter odds by bookmakers to win the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on October 26, 2026.

England captain Harry Kane is odds-on to win, after a club-record 61 goals in 51 games for German double winners Bayern Munich last season. He also scored six times at the World Cup.

Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, is second favourite – followed by his club and international team-mate Rodri, formerly of Manchester City.

Tuesday’s match will be Madrid’s first UCL game this season, as the team will contend to dethrone two-time champions PSG, where Mbappe had played for seven seasons and won 17 trophies.

Also, Coach Jose Mourinho will pit against his former side, where he won the 2010 Champions League. The Portuguese tactician will share the dugout with his former Inter Milan player, Christian Chivu.

Speaking to reporters on the recent success of two-time UCL champions PSG, who won the trophies after Mbappé’s exit to Madrid, the striker said, “I can’t change it. The truth is that I really don’t care. I know how to analyse football; I know why.

“I don’t know everything about football, but I know more than most.”

The report noted that Mbappe is the all-time top scorer for both PSG and France. At PSG, he had 256 goals in 308 games. In the France national team, he netted 66 times in 106 games.

Mbappe has scored 90 goals in 107 matches for Real Madrid

On individual honours, he has won eight consecutive league golden boots – six in Ligue 1 and two in La Liga, two in World Cups and another two in the Champions League.

However, he’s yet to win the Champions League or a major trophy in two years at the Bernabéu.