Real Madrid's strategy to ensure Kylian Mbappé beats Harry Kane to Ballon d'Or revealed
Real Madrid have a special plan to help Kylian Mbappé win the Ballon d'Or this year amid fierce competition for the prestigious prize.
The French superstar is one of the leading contenders for the highest individual honour in football, with Bayern Munich star Harry Kane and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal also in the running.
It is understood that Madrid are desperate for their star man to win the top prize and plan to give him significant exposure and public backing over the coming weeks to boost his bid for the trophy.
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Real Madrid have special plan for Kylian Mbappé to win the Ballon d'Or
Real Madrid hope their public support for Mbappé will boost his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or next month.
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A report from L'Équipe states that the La Liga giants have launched a special plan in the build-up to the ceremony that will see club legends repeatedly make the case for why he deserves to win the award.
Madrid adopted a similar approach in 2013, when Alfredo Di Stéfano, Emilio Butragueño, Carlo Ancelotti, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos all publicly backed Cristiano Ronaldo for the award.
Ronaldo eventually beat Bayern Munich duo Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben to the prize, and Madrid reportedly hope a similar campaign will help Mbappé pip Kane and Yamal to the trophy.
The latest bookmakers' odds put Kane as the favourite, with Mbappé in third behind Yamal. No player scored more club goals during the 2025-26 season than Kane, who netted 61 times as Bayern Munich won the league title and the German Cup.
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How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?
The Ballon d'Or is awarded annually by France Football magazine to the player perceived to have been the best in the world over a single full season.
The winner is selected through a voting system involving journalists. An initial 30-player shortlist is created by France Football and L'Équipe.
One journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations is then invited to vote for their top 10 players, with points awarded according to their rankings.
The selected journalists are encouraged to consider three key factors when casting their votes. First, they must consider individual performances during the previous season before taking into account team performances and what the players achieved at both club and international level.
The third factor is fair play, with the winner also expected to be a leading ambassador for the sport.
Once all the votes have been submitted, the points are tallied and the players are ranked according to their total. If two players are tied, the one with the most first-place votes wins.
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Football News, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe
Rich Fay