Kylian Mbappe has come under fire just before the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. A Spanish journalist claims the Real Madrid superstar has made his season look more impressive than it really was, while Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal remain strong contenders.

Mbappe Accused of Exaggerating His Achievements in 2026 Ballon d’Or Race

Kylian Mbappe has become the centre of a major controversy just before the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, with a Spanish journalist accusing the Real Madrid superstar of making his achievements look better than they really were.

The French forward is among the leading candidates for football’s biggest individual award, but his campaign has now faced strong criticism.

Spanish journalist makes strong accusations against Mbappe

Speaking on Cadena SER, Spanish journalist Anton Meana questioned the way Mbappe has promoted his performances ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

According to Football.fr, Meana believes the French superstar’s media campaign has influenced how people judge his season.

He claimed that Mbappe’s public comments have made his achievements appear more impressive than his actual performances.

The journalist also argued that Harry Kane had enjoyed a better season than the Real Madrid forward.

However, these comments are personal opinions. There is no evidence that Mbappe has falsified his statistics.

Harry Kane’s achievements put pressure on Mbappe

Meana explained that Kane scored more goals, helped Bayern Munich eliminate Real Madrid from the Champions League and defeated France with England at the 2026 World Cup.

Kane scored an incredible 73 goals for club and country during the 2025/26 season.

The Bayern Munich striker also won the European Golden Shoe and several domestic trophies.

Meanwhile, Mbappe finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup.

However, the French superstar failed to win a major team trophy during the season.

This difference in team achievements has become a major talking point in the Ballon d’Or debate.

Mbappe could miss out on the top three

According to Cadena SER journalist Hector Gonzalez, some journalists involved in the voting believe the race is mainly between Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal.

Some even believe Mbappe could finish outside the top three despite his outstanding goalscoring record.

However, these are only predictions, not official voting results.

Ballon d’Or winner to be revealed on October 26

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on Monday, October 26.

With Kane and Yamal receiving strong support, Mbappe faces serious competition for his first Ballon d’Or.

Despite the criticism, the Real Madrid star remains a candidate, and the final winner has not yet been officially announced.