“For me, it’s Kylian”: Henry says Mbappé deserves Ballon d’Or despite no major trophies | OneFootball

Thierry Henry has argued that Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe should be named winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Mbappe is understood to be among the contenders for the 2026 award, which will be announced next month. The French forward was named on the 30-man shortlist this week, and has outlined his belief that he should win the accolade.

The 27-year-old did not win a major trophy for club or country in 2025/26, but enjoyed a remarkable individual season. Mbappe was the leading scorer inLa Liga, the Champions League, and the 2026 World Cup, and broke the World Cup's all-time goal record in the summer.

Henry believes there is no clear favourite for the Ballon d'Or but believes Mbappe deserves the title.

Henry weighs contenders and crowns Mbappé favourite for 2026 Ballon d’Or over Kane and Olise

"It's not as easy as it was last year. Remember when I said [Ousmane] Dembele, Dembele, Dembele. It was clear it was going to be that," he toldCBS Sports.

"I think this year it's a bit more complicated. If you look at Harry Kane, it's not me [saying this] but the best player in Germany last year was Michael Olise. If you ask people in England who had the best World Cup, they would say Jude Bellingham. Then I move on to Jude Bellingham, maybe his season wasn't too great at Real Madrid.

"Then you go to Rodri. He was outstanding at the World Cup, Player of the Tournament, but he didn't play so much during the season. Lamine Yamal, you will say he didn't have a good World Cup because he arrived injured.

"We move on to Erling Haaland. How are you going to bypass this guy that scores in any angle, at every angle? But I think he's below some of the players that I mentioned.

"Then you go to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, he wasn't in the World Cup. You move on to Lionel Messi, and I think if they [Argentina] had won the World Cup they would have brought the Ballon d'Or and the World Cup to him. If he won it, but he didn't, unfortunately for him.

"That leaves you with Michael Olise and, my favourite, Kylian Mbappe. People will tell me that he didn't win anything. I think it's happened in history that a Ballon d'Or winner won it without winning something.

"For me, it's Kylian. When you see what he has achieved individually. Top goalscorer in the Champions League, top goalscorer in La Liga, and also in the World Cup. Michael Olise has the same thing with assists. When you think about the amount of goals he has already in the World Cup, it's just crazy. I would personally go for him, with Michael Olise close [second]."