Kylian Mbappe chases golden finish to salvage Ballon d’Or dream

Kylian Mbappe still has a shot at rewriting his season’s story, and the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

After a mixed debut campaign at Real Madrid, where the French forward dazzled with 43 goals and 5 assists in 56 games, individual brilliance hasn’t been enough to guarantee him the golden prize.

Mbappe’s Real Madrid fell short in key competitions. La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the domestic Super Cup all went to arch-rivals Barcelona, while Arsenal ended their Champions League hopes in the quarter-finals. Though Madrid clinched the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, those triumphs may not be enough.

Strong contenders have emerged. Ousmane Dembele guided PSG to a Ligue 1 and Champions League double. Mohamed Salah lifted the Premier League with Liverpool. Barcelona’s Raphinha swept every domestic title in Spain.

Mbappe’s best chance now lies with France. The UEFA Nations League semifinal against Spain offers a path to silverware. Then comes the Club World Cup, where Real Madrid face Al Hilal, Pachuca, and Salzburg. These trophies could still tip the scales in Mbappe’s favour.