Florentino Perez convinced 26-year-old Real Madrid star will win Ballon d’Or next year | OneFootball

According to a recent report from Defensa Central, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is convinced that Kylian Mbappe has what it takes to win the Ballon d’Or next year if he keeps performing at this level.

The French forward’s explosive start to the 2025/26 season has caught the attention of the football world, but Perez appears calm and focused on the bigger picture.

For the Real Madrid president, individual awards are secondary to team success, especially after last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, which many within the club viewed as unfair towards Vinicius Jr.

Perez reportedly places more importance on The Best award, believing Mbappe could ultimately win it too.

At the end of October, Mbappe already has 15 goals and 2 assists to his name. These are the figures from La Liga, the Champions League, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup.

Yet those close to the player insist on caution. Football seasons are long, with ups and downs inevitable, but there’s a growing feeling at Madrid that the 26-year-old forward is entering his best phase yet.

Focused on team before individual awards

Kylian Mbappe is in scintilating form this season. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

For Mbappe, personal recognition will only come if Real Madrid lift major trophies. Those around him know that goals and assists mean little without silverware, and the player himself fully understands this.

The Frenchman’s confidence has soared since arriving in Madrid.

He finally feels at home, as he is playing for the club he has always admired and now serves as one of its most decisive figures.

He is handling the weight of expectation with maturity, proving week after week that he is ready to lead Los Blancos to glory.

Perez sees Mbappe as a future Ballon d’Or winner not only because of his statistics but also due to his mentality and determination.

As long as he maintains this form and helps Madrid fight for every major title, few would doubt that the next Ballon d’Or could be heading straight to the Santiago Bernabeu.