Portuguese football legend Luis Figo has weighed in on the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, identifying Kylian Mbappe as a primary contender. Speaking during a recent Betfair event, Figo emphasized that the forward's performance at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, where he scored 10 goals to claim the Golden Boot and became the tournament's all-time top scorer with 22 goals, makes him a leading candidate for the prestigious individual award.
While Figo acknowledged that the World Cup serves as a significant factor in evaluating potential winners, he stressed that domestic league titles and success in the UEFA Champions League remain essential criteria. Consequently, he advocated for the inclusion of Paris Saint-Germain duo Vitinha and Desire Doue, citing their Champions League contributions with the Ligue 1 club last season. Figo noted that while the World Cup performance is important, the "whole year should count" when determining the recipient of the trophy.
The former star's assessment notably omitted both Lionel Messi and Rodri. Despite Rodri's instrumental role in Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final—a performance that earned him the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player—he was excluded from Figo’s list of favorites. Similarly, Messi, who is currently 39, remains a topic of debate. Although he missed the top 30 rankings in 2024 and 2025, his 12 goal contributions during the World Cup and a productive campaign with Inter Miami, which included winning the MLS Cup in December 2025 and securing the league's Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 games, have kept him in the conversation for a potential ninth Ballon d'Or.
France Football has clarified that players operating outside of Europe are eligible for the award, and that winning the World Cup does not guarantee a victory. Despite Mbappe’s individual success in North America, he finished the previous season trophyless with Real Madrid, though he did secure the Pichichi trophy. Figo maintained his stance that a holistic view of the entire season, covering both international and club-level achievements, is the correct approach to selecting the winner.
