Ballon d'Or 2026: 'He's one of them' - What Mbappé said about Harry Kane after England star won award

Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappé has reacted following his runner-up finish in the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which was won by Harry Kane.

Mbappé secured the second position, representing his highest achievement in the prestigious award, while Lamine Yamal of Spain and Barcelona claimed third place.

The Real Madrid forward led La Liga’s scoring rankings with 25 goals last season, dominated the Champions League with 15 goals, achieved 10 goals in the 2026 World Cup and became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with a total of 22 goals.

Despite these exceptional individual performances, Real Madrid concluded the season without capturing any major trophies, while France also did not win the World Cup.

Mbappé told Athlon Sports, “He deserves it; he’s a great player. People came to see great players, and he’s one of them.”

Mbappé had stated that he had refrained from writing an acceptance speech ahead of the award night, as he believes ‘such preparation invites misfortune’.

Upon the announcement of Kane’s victory, Mbappé was among the first players to extend his congratulations before Kane proceeded to the stage.

Mbappé arrived at the ceremony following an impressive display in Real Madrid’s El Clasico victory against Barcelona, during which he scored two goals to secure a 2-1 win at Camp Nou.