Kylian Mbappe has admitted that he wanted to win the Ballon d’Or but accepted that Harry Kane deserved the prestigious individual award, insisting that he would rather return to work than complain about missing out.
The France international said he was disappointed not to emerge as the winner but expressed happiness for Kane, whom he praised for his years of hard work, consistency and ability to deliver at the highest level.
Mbappe said his presence at the award ceremony was driven by his ambition to win the trophy, stressing that although he respected the achievements of other nominees, he was not satisfied with merely being nominated.
“Seeing him lift that trophy made me happy. I was proud of him, genuinely. But let me be clear: I didn’t travel to that ceremony to support Harry Kane. I went there because I wanted to win the Ballon d’Or myself,” he said.
The Real Madrid forward explained that it was possible to congratulate another player on winning while still feeling disappointed about losing out on an award he had hoped to claim.
He added that Kane’s victory did not diminish his own determination to become the world’s best footballer, noting that he would use the experience as motivation to improve his performances.
“I want to win. I want to be the best. And when I lose, I don’t suddenly pretend that winning was never important to me,” Mbappe said.
The French star also insisted that he would not complain about the outcome or seek sympathy from supporters who believed he deserved the award.
“I would rather lose the Ballon d’Or to a player I respect than win the sympathy of people who tell me I deserved it after the ceremony,” he added.
While acknowledging Kane’s achievement, Mbappe maintained that his pursuit of the coveted honour was far from over, pledging to work harder, score more goals and take greater responsibility in his quest for future success.
“Harry had his night, and I respect that. But my story isn’t finished,” he said.
