According to a report by The Daily Post on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has congratulated Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane after finishing second behind the England captain in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Mbappé finished as the runner up, recording his best-ever position in the prestigious individual award. Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal secured third place behind the two forwards.
Speaking to Athlon Sports, the French international praised Kane’s ability and impressive performances, admitting that the Bayern Munich striker deserved to win the award.
“He deserves it; he’s a great player. People came to see great players, and he’s one of them,” Mbappé said.
The Real Madrid forward enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign, finishing as La Liga’s leading goalscorer with 25 goals. He also topped the scoring charts in the UEFA Champions League, registering 15 goals in the competition.
Furthermore, Mbappé scored 10 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking his overall tally in the tournament to 22 goals and making him its all-time leading goalscorer.
Despite these remarkable achievements, the Frenchman missed out on the Ballon d’Or. Real Madrid ended the campaign without a major trophy, while France also failed to win the World Cup.
Before the ceremony, Mbappé revealed that he had not prepared an acceptance speech. Reports suggested that he was concerned preparing one in advance could bring bad luck.
When Kane was announced as the winner, Mbappé was among the first players to congratulate him before the England captain went on stage to collect the prestigious award.
The French forward attended the ceremony after delivering an impressive performance in Real Madrid’s El Clasico victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. Mbappé scored twice to help his team secure a 2-1 win against their rivals.
Although he missed out on football’s most prestigious individual honour, Mbappé’s reaction to Kane’s victory demonstrated his respect for the Bayern Munich striker.
His congratulatory message has also attracted attention among football fans, highlighting the competition between two of the game’s leading forwards and the recognition Kane received for his performances during the season.
