Bacary Sagna Backs Kvaratskhelia Over Mbappe for 2026 Ballon d’Or
Kylian Mbappé’s record-breaking 2026 World Cup has strengthened his Ballon d’Or case, but former France defender Bacary Sagna believes Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia should be recognised as last season’s most influential player.
Key takeaways
- Mbappé became the World Cup’s leading scorer of all time during France’s 2026 campaign.
- Kvaratskhelia helped PSG retain the Champions League and has been backed by Sagna for the Golden Ball.
- Real Madrid have not won a major trophy across the past two seasons, despite Mbappé scoring 90 times in 106 matches.
- Mbappé has already scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad this season.
- Harry Kane struck 61 goals for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich last term, although Bayern did not win the 2026 Champions League.
World Cup form shapes a crowded Ballon d’Or race
Individual awards often turn on international success in a World Cup year, and Spain’s summer triumph in North America has placed their leading players firmly in the discussion. Manchester City midfielder Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, and his new Barcelona colleague Lamine Yamal are among those expected to feature prominently.
Kane has also assembled a powerful domestic case after his 61-goal season for Bayern, but the absence of a Champions League win may count against him. PSG, by contrast, secured a second successive European crown, opening the possibility of another award for Ousmane Dembélé or for one of his club team-mates.
Sagna placed Kvaratskhelia ahead of Mbappé despite acknowledging the Real Madrid forward’s extraordinary level. He described Mbappé as being among the world’s top three players, noting that a striker’s goals naturally attract attention from voters.
However, Sagna argued that Kvaratskhelia’s influence from the wing made him the outstanding candidate. In his view, the Georgian’s contribution to PSG’s successful campaign, beyond simply winning the Champions League, was greater than that of any other player last season.
Mbappé’s World Cup performances nevertheless impressed Sagna, who said he was pleased to see the France captain score so freely. He added that Mbappé has begun the new season at the level expected of him, while suggesting that Ballon d’Or judgement must also consider how decisive a player was for his club over the preceding campaign.
Mbappé’s Madrid challenge under Mourinho
Mbappé has continued to produce elite numbers since joining Real Madrid. The forward has collected two La Liga Golden Boots and reached 90 goals in 106 appearances for the club, yet Madrid’s failure to lift a major trophy in either of the last two seasons has complicated his route to the Ballon d’Or.
He has already established scoring records for France and former club PSG, and his World Cup tally now stands as the highest in the tournament’s history. His early-season hat-trick against Real Sociedad was another indication that his individual output is unlikely to fall.
Former France striker Louis Saha believes Mbappé has the ability to win the award but said Champions League success remains central to the contest. He noted the scrutiny surrounding Mbappé’s recent European campaigns: he left PSG before they won the competition, while Madrid have not reached the final despite being regarded as regular contenders.
Saha said that sequence has prompted questions about Mbappé’s personal fortunes, but argued that the forward deserves to meet his ambitions. He also defended Mbappé’s desire to be central to decisive moments, describing that appetite as a trait common among the game’s greatest players. Saha pointed to Cristiano Ronaldo’s trophy record as evidence that elite forwards are judged differently when collective success accompanies their numbers.
José Mourinho’s task at Madrid is now to return the club to the trophy trail while keeping Mbappé’s No. 10 at the centre of the project. If club silverware follows his remarkable scoring record, Mbappé’s chances of finally claiming the Ballon d’Or will become considerably stronger.
