Ballon d’Or 2026: Mbappé and Yamal light up the scoring charts at the start of the season

Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal have resumed the season at a high level. The two candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or are already scoring regularly for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.

The two forwards have also made their ambitions for the trophy clear. Mbappé is relying in particular on his individual performances from last season to support his candidacy. Yamal, meanwhile, is highlighting the titles he won with FC Barcelona and Spain. Their duel is therefore continuing on the pitch, with two different arguments and the same desire to establish themselves among the contenders for the trophy.

Mbappé maintains his pace

Kylian Mbappé was quick to rediscover his scoring efficiency with Real Madrid. The French forward already has eight goals and two assists since the start of the 2026-2027 season. He notably scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad, before netting two braces against Rayo Vallecano and Elche.

This start extends a particularly productive previous season. Mbappé finished the campaign with 25 goals in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League. He also finished the 2026 World Cup as the tournament’s top scorer, taking his total number of goals in the competition’s history to 22.

It is on the basis of this record that the Frenchman is building part of his Ballon d’Or candidacy. In an interview with France Football, he explained that he could win the trophy despite not having claimed a team title with Real Madrid or the France national team. He notably highlighted his performances as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup.

Yamal moves forward with his titles

Lamine Yamal is also enjoying a prolific start to the season. The young Barcelona player notably scored six goals in La Liga before continuing in the same vein. His latest performances have once again confirmed his importance in FC Barcelona’s attack.

For the 2026 Ballon d’Or, however, his main argument remains his record from the previous season. Yamal won La Liga with Barça before becoming world champion with Spain. Two major titles that play a central role in his candidacy.

At 19, the Catalan player is also embracing his ambitions. In an interview with Movistar Plus, he ranked Mbappé and himself among the two best players in the world and said he deserved the Ballon d’Or in view of the titles he won.

His second-place finish in the previous edition also strengthens his candidacy. His case is therefore based on a balance between individual performances and collective honours.

Current goals do not count towards the 2026 Ballon d’Or

One point must nevertheless be clarified. The reference period for the 2026 Ballon d’Or runs from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, including international competitions. Performances recorded since the start of the 2026-2027 season are therefore not taken into account for this edition.

The goals currently scored by Mbappé and Yamal will therefore not be able to alter the vote that will determine the winner on October 26 in London. The trophy rewards their previous season, while the two players have already begun a new chapter in their duel.

Their current statistics nevertheless offer an initial indication of their form at the start of this campaign. Mbappé continues to score regularly for Real Madrid, while Yamal is continuing his attacking development with FC Barcelona. These performances will not influence the awarding of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but they already offer an initial indication of their 2026-2027 season.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

Related teams and leagues

Barcelona

Real Madrid

LaLiga Spain