Bacary Sagna Rates Mbappe Among Top Three, Picks Kvaratskhelia for 2026 Ballon d’Or

Bacary Sagna Sees Mbappe as Top Three Player but Not the Best

Former France defender Bacary Sagna recently shared his view with GOAL, placing Kylian Mbappe among the world’s top three players currently. Despite Mbappe's stellar reputation at Real Madrid and on the French national team, Sagna doubts he will claim the Ballon d’Or in 2026.

Sagna also dismissed Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, as a contender when asked to name his favorite for the prestigious award. Instead, he favored others based on their impact last season and performances in major competitions.

Top Contenders for Ballon d’Or 2026

The winner often emerges from players who lift a major global trophy during a World Cup year. Spain’s success in North America this summer puts stars like Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, and his new Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal in strong contention.

Kane scored an impressive 61 goals for Bayern last season but fell short without a Champions League title. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain secured back-to-back Champions League victories, giving players like Ousmane Dembele or other PSG teammates a solid chance at the Golden Ball.

Sagna’s Pick: Kvaratskhelia Over Mbappe and Kane

When pressed about Mbappe’s chances, Sagna said,

“For me, the best right now is in the top three. He had an amazing year and is one of the best. Being a striker gives more chances to score, so more chances for people to notice him. But for me, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deserves the Ballon d’Or. He has been phenomenal as a winger with huge impact and a successful campaign. Apart from winning the Champions League, I think football players will agree that Kvara was the most important player last season.”

Sagna praised Mbappe’s World Cup performance but questioned his overall impact last season, suggesting that makes a difference in Ballon d’Or voting.

Will Mbappe Ever Win the Ballon d’Or?

Real Madrid have gone two seasons without major trophies despite Mbappe’s individual brilliance, including two La Liga Golden Boots and 90 goals in 106 matches. Former France striker Louis Saha recently reflected on Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or hopes, saying:

“He knows winning the Champions League boosts your chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. The pressure is on because he left a club that won it and joined one expected to be a favorite but failed to reach finals. It’s starting to raise questions personally. It seems like a bad luck streak he wants to fix quickly.”

Saha believes Mbappe deserves the award and noted the harsh criticism great players face when things don’t go perfectly.

Mbappe’s Records and Current Form

At the 2026 World Cup, Mbappe became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer and holds the same record for France and Ligue 1 giants PSG. This season, he already scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad for Real Madrid.

Coach Jose Mourinho aims to return Real Madrid to winning ways, hoping to boost Mbappe’s chances for Ballon d’Or recognition as the club chases trophies again.

• Top 2026 Ballon d’Or contenders: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane
• Mbappe’s 2026 World Cup achievement: All-time leading scorer
• Mbappe’s Real Madrid stats: 90 goals in 106 appearances, two La Liga Golden Boots
• Real Madrid recent trophies: None in past two seasons