CORNERFLICK
Thibaut Courtois has backed Kylian Mbappé to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, saying the Real Madrid forward has done enough to finish above the rest of the field.
Courtois favours individual form
Speaking on Onda Cero's Radioestadio Noche, Courtois said the race is open but picked Mbappé when asked to name one winner. He also mentioned Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane as players who have had strong seasons.
Courtois argued that Ballon d'Or voting should not be based only on team trophies. In his view, individual performance across the full season should carry major weight.
He pointed to past years as an example, saying players such as Dani Carvajal might have been stronger candidates in other seasons if titles were the only measure.
Mbappé's numbers keep him in contention
Mbappé is one of the 30 official nominees for the 2026 award. He finished last season as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and won the Champions League scoring race with 15.
He also scored 10 goals for France at the 2026 World Cup and won the Golden Boot.
The France forward has started the new season strongly too. According to La Liga's official figures, he has scored seven goals and provided two assists in his first seven league matches of 2026-27.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on 26 October at the Palais des Congrès in London for the first time.