Thierry Henry backs Kylian Mbappé to win 2026 Ballon d’Or despite trophyless season

France legend Thierry Henry has backed Kylian Mbappé to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that the Real Madrid forward’s outstanding individual performances should outweigh the lack of major team trophies.

Mbappé, who has Cameroonian roots is among the leading contenders for this year’s prestigious individual award after producing a remarkable campaign at both club and international level. The Frenchman finished as the leading scorer in La Liga and the Champions League and also claimed the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Henry believes those achievements make Mbappé a worthy candidate and insists that the Ballon d’Or should not automatically go to a player simply because he has collected the most trophies during the season.

“Ballon d’Or? Kylian for me deserves it. He was the BEST individually. He was the top goal scorer in the UCL, La Liga and World Cup,” Henry said.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona forward acknowledged that some voters may point to Mbappé’s lack of silverware as a reason to overlook him. However, Henry argued that there is historical precedent for a player winning the award without lifting a major trophy during the season.

“People can say Kylian went trophyless, but it has already happened in history. People need to do their research. The Ballon d’Or has been won without any trophies,” he added.

The debate surrounding Mbappé has intensified following the announcement of the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist. He faces competition from a number of elite players, including Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.

Kane is widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders after a prolific campaign with Bayern Munich and England, while Yamal enters the race after helping Spain enjoy major success. Rodri also remains a serious candidate following his influential performances during Spain’s World Cup triumph.

Mbappé’s case, however, is built heavily around his individual numbers. His scoring consistency across three of football’s biggest stages — the Champions League, La Liga and the World Cup — has placed him firmly in the conversation.

The French striker also made history at the World Cup by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer, further strengthening the argument that his individual contribution deserves significant consideration.

The absence of major trophies remains the biggest obstacle to Mbappé’s hopes. Real Madrid did not secure the major honours expected of them, while France also fell short on the international stage.

Henry, however, believes the award should recognise the best individual performer rather than simply reward the player with the strongest trophy cabinet.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will ultimately be decided by journalists from around the world, with the ceremony scheduled to take place in London on October 26.

For Henry, there is little doubt about his preferred choice. Despite the competition and the absence of major silverware, he believes Mbappé’s extraordinary individual season has done enough to make him the rightful winner.