Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jérôme Rothen accuses Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé of trying to buy votes ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Rothen says Mbappé is focused on positioning himself as a contender for the award and frames the move as an attempt to influence voting.
Both outlets report that the accusation comes amid talk of Mbappé’s status as a frontrunner for the prize. Yahoo Sports notes that France Football is set to announce the winner next month and describes Mbappé as among the leading contenders, citing his recent achievements across major competitions. The reports, however, do not provide independent evidence or specific details of any voting irregularities, nor do they include a direct response from Mbappé or Real Madrid.
While the claims are presented as part of broader commentary on the award race, the coverage differs mainly in emphasis: Daily Post Nigeria foregrounds Rothen’s allegation of vote buying, while Yahoo Sports focuses more on how the claim fits into Mbappé’s perceived “obsession” with winning the Ballon d’Or.
