Jérôme Rothen accuses Kylian Mbappé of trying to buy votes for 2026 Ballon d’Or

Former PSG midfielder Jérôme Rothen has accused Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé of trying to buy votes for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, claiming a deliberate promotional effort by Mbappé and his representatives. Rothen told RMC Sport that if Mbappé wins, it would initially look like a travesty before the truth becomes clear.

The accusation matters because the Ballon d’Or is football’s highest individual honour and its credibility shapes how fans, including Nigerians, view player achievements. With African talents like Victor Osimhen regularly in the conversation, any perception of vote‑buying could affect confidence in the award’s fairness.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be announced on October 26 in London. Mbappé faces strong competition from Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé, and has publicly said he believes he deserves the award after strong club and national‑team performances.

If the vote‑buying claims are true, does the Ballon d’Or still represent the best player on merit, or should fans look for other measures of excellence?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/25/2026-ballon-dor-kylian-mbappe-accused-of-vote-buying/