Kylian Mbappe is once again at the centre of the Ballon d’Or conversation, but this time the debate is not only about what he has achieved on the pitch.
The Real Madrid forward has been increasingly open about his desire to win the prestigious individual award for the first time. He has discussed the criteria he believes should determine the winner and repeatedly highlighted the importance of individual performances.
That approach has now attracted criticism from several French football pundits.
Former France international Jerome Rothen has questioned the way Mbappe is promoting his Ballon d’Or candidacy, while RMC commentator Daniel Riolo has also raised concerns about the frequency and timing of the player’s recent media appearances.
The disagreement does not necessarily centre on whether Mbappe belongs among the contenders. Instead, it focuses on how strongly he is making his case away from the pitch.
Mbappe Wants Individual Performance to Matter
Mbappe has consistently argued that individual performance should play a major role in the Ballon d’Or decision.
His position has become particularly relevant because Real Madrid ended the previous season without a major trophy, meaning the French forward’s individual contribution has received additional attention.
Rather than viewing team trophies as the only measurement, Mbappe has emphasised what a player produces individually throughout a season.
His argument can be summarised through several factors:
- Individual performances should receive significant consideration.
- Team success should not automatically determine the winner.
- A player’s contribution should be assessed beyond the trophies won by his club.
- Consistency and personal impact should remain important parts of the evaluation.
Those points have helped shape the public discussion surrounding his candidacy.
However, the more frequently Mbappe has discussed the award, the more attention has shifted toward the way he is presenting his own case.
Jerome Rothen Questions the Timing
Jerome Rothen has been particularly critical of Mbappe’s recent media activity.
Speaking on Rothen S’enflamme, the former France international questioned whether the Real Madrid forward was becoming too active in promoting his Ballon d’Or ambitions.
Rothen went as far as asking whether Mbappe was effectively trying to “buy votes” for the award, a deliberately strong expression used while criticising the player’s campaign strategy.
His argument is not simply about Mbappe’s footballing ability.
Instead, Rothen is questioning whether a leading candidate should be so publicly involved in making his own case, particularly when the award is ultimately decided through voting.
That has created an interesting contrast.
Mbappe is openly explaining why he believes individual performance should matter, while his critics believe the frequency of those arguments could itself become part of the controversy.
Daniel Riolo Focuses on Mbappe’s Interviews
Daniel Riolo has also examined the media strategy surrounding Mbappe.
One interview that attracted particular attention was Mbappe’s appearance with French broadcaster RFI.
Riolo highlighted the broadcaster’s international reach and questioned the circumstances behind the interview. According to his comments, the interview took 17 days to arrange and was recorded only two days before Real Madrid’s derby against Atletico Madrid.
For Riolo, those details suggested that the interview was part of a broader and carefully organised strategy.
He described the situation as evidence of a larger plan surrounding Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or ambitions.
However, that interpretation remains Riolo’s assessment.
The fact that an interview required significant planning does not, by itself, prove that it was organised specifically to influence Ballon d’Or voters.
What it does demonstrate is the level of attention now being given to Mbappe’s public appearances.
The Atletico Derby Added More Fuel
The debate intensified after Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid.
Mbappe struggled to make a significant impact in the match, registering only one blocked shot and recording 0.02 expected goals.
The performance became particularly relevant because it arrived while his Ballon d’Or candidacy was already receiving extensive discussion.
Riolo subsequently described the Ballon d’Or as an “obsession” for Mbappe and questioned how much attention the player was giving to his own campaign.
For critics, the timing created an uncomfortable contrast: Mbappe was heavily involved in discussions about his individual credentials, yet his immediate performance in the Madrid derby offered little to support the argument on that particular night.
Still, one match cannot determine an entire Ballon d’Or campaign.
The award considers a player’s broader body of work rather than a single performance.
The Trophy Debate Is Still Relevant
One of the biggest questions surrounding Mbappe’s candidacy is the relationship between individual performances and team achievements.
Real Madrid’s lack of a major trophy last season naturally becomes part of the discussion.
Mbappe’s position is that individual quality should remain a major factor even when a player’s club does not finish the season with the biggest trophies.
That view is not unique to him, and the debate over individual versus collective success has been part of Ballon d’Or discussions for years.
The difference this time is that Mbappe has been particularly vocal about his own interpretation.
That has made his comments almost as much a part of the conversation as his performances.
Does Mbappe’s Media Campaign Actually Matter?
There is currently no way to determine whether Mbappe’s media appearances will have any impact on the final voting process.
The voters will ultimately make their own assessments based on the criteria and performances they consider relevant.
Likewise, criticism from Rothen and Riolo should be viewed as their opinions about Mbappe’s approach rather than proof that the campaign has influenced voters.
Mbappe’s interviews may simply reflect a player who is confident in his achievements and wants to explain why he believes he deserves recognition.
At the same time, his increased visibility has inevitably created more opportunities for critics to examine his arguments.
Mbappe’s First Ballon d’Or Remains the Main Goal
Mbappe has already established himself as one of the most prominent players in world football, but the Ballon d’Or remains one of the major individual honours missing from his collection.
His ambition to win it is therefore understandable.
The current controversy is less about whether he wants the award and more about how openly he is pursuing it.
With Rothen and Riolo questioning his approach, Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or campaign has developed into a separate story alongside his performances for Real Madrid.
Whether his public arguments ultimately help, have no effect or simply generate more discussion remains unknown.
For now, one thing is clear: Mbappe is determined to make his case for the Ballon d’Or, and in France, the way he is doing it has become almost as controversial as the award itself.
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