Kylian Mbappé did almost everything right. He broke a World Cup record, ruled the scoring charts in Spain and Europe, and still went home from London empty-handed. He finished second to Harry Kane in the 70th Ballon d’Or vote. If you want the definition of a bittersweet year, this is it.
The Record-Breaking World Cup
Start with the summer, because it was historic. Mbappé became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals, 10 of them at this year’s tournament. That won him the Golden Boot again, making him the first player to take multiple World Cup Golden Boots. His 10 goals also tied Gerd Müller for the third-highest haul at a single World Cup. The record-breaking 22nd goal came in the third-place playoff against England.
The Club Numbers Were Elite Too
Mbappé was ruthless for Real Madrid. He was La Liga’s top scorer with 25 goals and led the Champions League with 15. That would win the award in plenty of years. Not this one.
Why Kane Beat Mbappé for the Ballon d’Or
The gap came down to volume and trophies. Kane scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country and won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. Sky Sports counted 58 goals for Mbappé over the same period. Mbappé also finished the season without a trophy, missing out in La Liga, the Champions League and at the World Cup.
He did not stay quiet about it either. In an interview with L’Équipe, Mbappé declared that nobody had been better than him last season. Confidence like that is part of why he is great. The voters just leaned the other way. He was one of the leading contenders for the award but ultimately fell short.
The Redemption Chapter Starts Now
Here is where the story turns. The day before the ceremony, Mbappé went to the Camp Nou and made a statement. He scored twice, including a late winner, in Real Madrid’s 2-1 Clásico victory over Barcelona. The result cut the gap behind La Liga leaders Barcelona to three points.
Remember, he has finished in the top 10 every year since 2017 without lifting the trophy. He is only 27. Second place hurts, but it is also proof of how close he is. Setbacks like this are often setups for what comes next.
The Big Takeaway
Mbappé lost the Ballon d’Or, but he did not lose the plot. The World Cup record is permanent, the goals keep coming, and Real Madrid are charging in La Liga. If he wins the title and the Champions League this season, this snub will look like a speed bump.
So what do you think: was Mbappé robbed, or did Kane deserve it? Tell us in the comments and share this with your football group chat.
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