Mbappe: ‘I hope I can win the Ballon d’Or and dedicate it to Africa’

France captain Kylian Mbappe says he has never lost touch with his African roots and hopes to dedicate the 2026 Ballon d’Or to supporters across the continent if he wins the prestigious individual award.

The Real Madrid forward, whose mother is Algerian and father is from Cameroon, spoke about his African heritage, family background and relationship with the continent during an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI).

“I have never lost touch with my roots and origins,” he said.

Mbappe was born and raised in France but said African culture remained an important influence during his upbringing and shaped some of the values instilled in him.

Mbappe recalls warm reception in Cameroon

The 27-year-old also reflected on a recent visit to Cameroon, where he was warmly welcomed by supporters.

“Every time I go to Africa, I am always warmly received. I feel the love of the people,” Mbappe said.

The French forward said the support he has received from African football fans throughout his career holds particular significance because of his family connections to the continent.

He also thanked African supporters and voters for their backing ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

“I want to thank them for their support throughout all these years,” he said.

Mbappe hopes to dedicate Ballon d’Or to Africa

Mbappe believes his performances over the past season could give him a chance of winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time.

The France captain said he would be proud to share the achievement with his African supporters if he receives the award.

“I hope I can win the Ballon d’Or and, in one way or another, dedicate it to them,” he said.

His comments underline the connection he continues to maintain with Africa despite representing France at the international level.

‘The Ballon d’Or is not an obsession’

Mbappe also insisted that winning the Ballon d’Or is an important ambition rather than something that dominates his career.

The forward pointed to his goalscoring record across major competitions when discussing his case for the award and said individual performances should be an important factor in determining the winner.

He acknowledged that missing out would be disappointing given his competitive nature, but remained confident that his performances have put him in contention to claim the prize.