Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has named teammate Kylian Mbappé as his preferred choice for the Ballon d’Or, prioritizing individual brilliance over team silverware during a wide-ranging interview with DAZN.
Ballon d’Or Voting Preferences and Criteria
The annual football gala is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, in Zurich, where the successor to Ousmane Dembélé will be named. Ahead of the ceremony, a crowded field of contenders includes Spanish world champions, PSG-spelers who secured European titles, alongside standouts like Mbappé and Harry Kane.
Thibaut Courtois backs Kylian Mbappé for the 2026 Ballon d'Or over Lamine Yamal: "Individually, nobody has been better." 🏆 https://t.co/dyUn4OEigV pic.twitter.com/JK1pLNn28b
Courtois made it clear that his vote would go to the French forward, arguing that Mbappé performed above every other player across the course of the campaign. The Belgian international acknowledged the complication that Real Madrid failed to capture major team trophies during the period.
“I think Kylian deserves it,” Courtois said in his interview with DAZN. “Choose someone who has won trophies, or someone who stood out above everyone all season, even without winning anything? In my opinion, no one was individually better than Mbappé, but unfortunately, as a team, we didn’t win anything.”
Contrasting Contenders and Historical Precedents
Courtois’ stance diverges from the prevailing profile of other frontrunners frequently mentioned for the award, such as Lamine Yamal. Yamal secured the World Cup with Spain and captured the Spanish league title with FC Barcelona.
While acknowledging the teenage winger’s strong season, Courtois offered a specific assessment of Yamal’s tournament performance. “For me, he played a slightly less good World Cup, but he did become world champion, won the Liga with Barcelona, and had a good year,” Courtois said.
The Belgian goalkeeper also questioned past voting criteria by pointing to the 2024 Ballon d’Or award won by Rodri. “For me, Rodri didn’t have his best year then,” Courtois stated. “Maybe he deserved it more the year before, when Manchester City won the Champions League.”
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