Thibaut Courtois publicly supports Kylian Mbappé as the candidate he believes should win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Multiple outlets report that the Real Madrid goalkeeper frames Mbappé as the clear standout in individual performance, including by arguing he has been the best player on the pitch during the year.
However, Courtois also raises questions about how the award is judged. Some coverage highlights his concern that a lack of team trophies could weaken Mbappé’s case, while another outlet notes he questions the clarity and consistency of the Ballon d’Or voting criteria. At least one report contrasts the situation with Lamine Yamal, tying the debate to how international tournament performance may be viewed alongside individual output.
Overall, the outlets largely converge on Courtois’s message: he prefers Mbappé for the award, but acknowledges that the voting process and the role of trophies could influence the final decision.
