Mbappé says he would dedicate Ballon d'Or to Africa if he wins

The France and Real Madrid forward, who has African roots, thanked African voters for their years of support ahead of the award ceremony.

Kylian Mbappé says he would dedicate the Ballon d'Or to Africa if he wins the award for the first time. The France captain and Real Madrid forward made the comments in an interview with RFI.

African representatives hold 20 percent of the votes for the trophy. Mbappé, who has African roots, thanked those voters for backing him over the years and said he has always felt loved whenever he has visited the continent.

The 27-year-old said at a press conference in early September that he has a feeling this is a good year for his chances. He scored 42 goals in 44 matches across all competitions in the 2025-26 season and became the World Cup's all-time top scorer.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in a few weeks, and Mbappé has made a series of media appearances ahead of the vote.