Former Paris Saint-Germain winger Jerome Rothen has predicted a lonely outcome for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe if he claims the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Mbappe is considered one of the leading candidates after finishing as the World Cup and Champions League top scorer last season.
The France captain guided his team to the World Cup semi-finals before they suffered defeat to England in the third-place match.
Mbappe has also said he merits the award ahead of fellow contenders Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.
But Rothen expects the achievement to leave Mbappe isolated rather than celebrated.
“I’m telling you… If Mbappe wins the Ballon d’Or, it’s a real downer, and he’s gonna end up feeling mighty lonely,” Rothen said (via Rothen s’enflamme).
