Kylian Mbappe has come under fire after former French international Jerome Rothen claimed that his media campaign helped him finish second in the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The Real Madrid star narrowly lost to Harry Kane.

Mbappe Accused of Benefiting From Ballon d’Or Campaign After Finishing Second in 2026

Kylian Mbappe has faced fresh criticism after former French international Jerome Rothen claimed that the Real Madrid superstar benefited from a major media campaign during the 2026 Ballon d’Or race.

The French forward finished second behind Harry Kane at the awards ceremony in London on October 26.

However, Rothen believes Mbappe’s final position was strongly influenced by his activities away from the pitch.

Jerome Rothen makes strong accusation against Mbappe

Speaking on RMC Sport, Rothen criticised the French captain’s approach to the Ballon d’Or competition.

According to the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Mbappe used an unusually strong media campaign to gain support from journalists who voted for the award.

Rothen claimed that Mbappe would not have finished second without the campaign.

He argued that the Real Madrid forward had tried to attract votes through interviews and public statements.

Rothen also suggested that Mbappe should focus more on teamwork if he wants to win the Ballon d’Or in the future.

Mbappe’s media campaign attracts criticism

According to French newspaper Le Monde, Mbappe gave several interviews to major international media outlets before the voting deadline.

These included France Football, CNN, The Athletic, AS and RFI.

During an interview with France Football in September, Mbappe described himself as the best player of the previous season.

His confident comments attracted criticism from several football figures.

Former Ballon d’Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin also questioned Mbappe’s public approach, suggesting that he was focusing too much on promoting himself.

Harry Kane wins despite Mbappe’s efforts

Despite Mbappe’s impressive performances, Harry Kane was officially crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner.

The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025/26 season.

Kane became the first English player to win the prestigious award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Meanwhile, Mbappe finished second, with Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal taking third place.

France Football has also confirmed that the voting between Kane and Mbappe was extremely close.

No evidence of voting manipulation

Although Rothen strongly criticised Mbappe’s campaign, there is currently no verified evidence that the French superstar broke any voting rules.

Giving interviews and promoting individual achievements does not automatically mean that a player has unfairly influenced the voting process.

Rothen’s claims remain his personal opinion rather than an official finding from France Football.

For now, Mbappe must wait for another opportunity to win his first Ballon d’Or, while the debate surrounding his media campaign continues.