2026 Ballon d’Or: Kylian Mbappe accused of vote buying

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Jérôme Rothen has accused Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappé of trying to buy votes ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or award ceremony.

The former PSG player contended that the 27-year-old has initiated a deliberate effort to position himself as a contender for the prestigious accolade.

Kylian Mbappé has demonstrated considerable confidence in his prospects of winning the Ballon d’Or this year, expressing his conviction that he deserves recognition as the world’s best player following exceptional performances for both his club and national team.

Rothen, however, disapproves of this approach, viewing the player’s public statements as a calculated component of his strategy to accumulate votes for the award.

Rothen told RMC Sport: “I’m going to be careful with what I say because it always provokes reactions, but they’re not going to shut my mouth in any way. But I don’t know if you really realise that right now he’s trying to buy votes for the Ballon d’Or… to get that f****** Ballon d’Or?

“Should he win the Ballon d’Or, it would initially appear to be a travesty, but the reality will become evident to all.

“While we discuss football here, it extends beyond former players offering commentary; occasionally, we engage in private conversations.

“Our collective assessment of him remains consistent, and this perspective is held not exclusively by lesser-known figures, but equally by prominent personalities.

“We now possess substantiation that a genuine promotional initiative exists on his behalf and that of his representatives: it is imperative that Kylian Mbappé obtains the Ballon d’Or. Nevertheless, should he achieve this recognition, I suspect he will find himself considerably isolated.”

The competition for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award is currently intensifying.

Kylian Mbappé faces formidable opposition from competitors including Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé.

The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on October 26.