Thierry Henry has thrown his support behind Kylian Mbappé to claim the 2026 Ballon d'Or, dismissing criticism that the Real Madrid striker lacks silverware this year. The France Football magazine shortlist of thirty candidates was announced on Tuesday, with Mbappé among the leading contenders alongside Paris Saint-Germain's Michael Olise.
Henry, the Arsenal and Barcelona legend, told Foot Mercato that individual brilliance should outweigh team success in the race for football's most prestigious individual award. "Some will tell me he has not won anything," Henry explained. "I think some people should search a little to discover that previous Ballon d'Or winners did not win trophies in the year before their victory." This observation carries weight—historical analysis reveals several past winners who captured the award despite their clubs' trophy droughts.
Individual Achievements Speak Volumes
Henry outlined Mbappé's standout accomplishments across multiple competitions. The striker finished as top scorer in the Champions League, top scorer in La Liga, and top scorer at the World Cup—a rare triple crown of goal-scoring excellence. Olise matched these heights with comparable assist numbers, which Henry acknowledged as equally remarkable.
"For me, Kylian is the best," Henry declared. "When you see what he achieved on an individual level, it speaks for itself. I would choose Kylian, with Michael Olise close behind him." This endorsement from one of France's greatest players carries significant credibility in the broader Ballon d'Or conversation.
A Stacked Field of Contenders
The shortlist reflects Europe's elite talent across multiple positions and nations:
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal)
- Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
- João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
- Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain, Ecuador)
Paris Saint-Germain's dominance on the list underscores the French club's collective strength across positions. With the voting process still underway, Henry's backing adds momentum to Mbappé's candidacy heading into the final announcement.
