Rothen Claims Mbappé Is Making Moves to Win Ballon dOr

(Kylian Mbappé. Photo Credit: Daily Post)

Former PSG midfielder Jérôme Rothen has accused Kylian Mbappé of orchestrating a campaign to gather votes ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards.

Rothen suggested Mbappé is deliberately positioning himself as the frontrunner for the award through calculated public statements and a coordinated effort by his representatives.

The 27-year-old has expressed confidence that he deserves recognition as the world's best player based on his performances for both club and country.

Rothen told a sports outlet that Mbappé appears to be actively campaigning for the accolade and that winning it would amount to a travesty.

He said a genuine promotional push exists on Mbappé's behalf among industry figures, both well-known and lesser-known personalities, who have discussed the matter privately.

Rothen warned that if Mbappé does secure the award, he suspects the player will find himself considerably isolated afterward.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or competition is heating up, with Mbappé competing against Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé among others.

The winner will be announced in London on October 26.