Ballon d'Or 2026: Jean-Pierre Papin severely rebukes Kylian Mbappé

Just days before the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, scheduled for October 26, former French international striker Jean-Pierre Papin strongly criticized the communication Kylian Mbappé is pictured around the prestigious trophy. The former French international, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1991, acknowledges the exceptional talent of the Real Madrid striker but criticizes him for being too self-centered. He also expresses a preference for Harry Kane.

  While Kylian Mbappé's sporting achievements leave no one indifferent, his approach to promoting himself for the Ballon d'Or is a subject of debate. Interviewed by France Télévisions, Jean-Pierre Papin didn't hesitate to criticize what he considers excessive self-promotion by the French national team captain.

The former Olympique de Marseille striker appreciates the qualities of the former Paris Saint-Germain forward and his ability to push boundaries. However, in his view, the comments made by the top scorer of the last World Cup regarding this individual award could work against him.

“I like Kylian a lot. He’s a record-breaker. However, at some point, it’s all about me, me, me and me,” Papin said, before reminding everyone that the final decision did not depend on the players themselves.

According to the former Ballon d'Or winner, Mbappé's communication gave the impression that no other candidate deserved the award more. He considers this stance excessive and incompatible with the spirit of the trophy.

"The Ballon d'Or is decided by others!" he insisted, believing that this way of putting himself forward did not correspond to all the criteria taken into account to designate the best player of the year.

Harry Kane has his favorite

Beyond his criticism of Mbappé, Jean-Pierre Papin also revealed his preference for Harry Kane. The English striker is among the contenders for the award and thus enjoys the support of the former French international.

With the verdict expected on October 26, Papin's statements have reignited the debate surrounding Mbappé's candidacy. It remains to be seen whether voters will prioritize the Frenchman's sporting achievements or if other factors will influence their final decision.