Courtois backs Mbappe to win 2026 Ballon d’Or, calls for individual excellence over trophies

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has declared Kylian Mbappe his pick for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, stating Mbappe has been the best player in the world this year. Speaking on Onda Cero’s Radioestadio Noche, Courtois argued the award should reward individual excellence rather than trophy count, saying, “The Ballon d’Or should be for who has been the best player in the world this year, not necessarily who won the most trophies,” and added, “For me, it is Mbappe.”

This endorsement from a top-tier goalkeeper adds weight to the debate over Ballon d’Or criteria, especially as Mbappe faces 29 other nominees for the award to be presented on October 26. For Nigerian football fans, Courtois’s view highlights the ongoing conversation about whether individual performance or team success should dominate individual honors, influencing how fans evaluate players like Mbappe, Victor Osimhen, or others in contention.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Voters will consider performances from the 2025-26 season. Who do you believe deserves the award based on individual brilliance this year—Mbappe, another nominee, or should trophy achievements weigh more heavily?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/01/2026-ballon-dor-hes-the-best-courtois-names-player-to-win-award/