French journalist Bertrand Latour has strongly criticised the possibility of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that the France captain does not deserve the prestigious individual award because he failed to win any trophies during the year.

Latour described a potential victory for Mbappé as “shameful,” questioning why the Real Madrid striker is being considered among the leading candidates despite not securing silverware.

The journalist made the remarks on Sunday while appearing on Canal Football Club, a football programme broadcast on Canal+, ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled to take place in London on Monday.

During the discussion, Latour expressed frustration with what he viewed as the growing expectation that Mbappé would emerge as the winner, insisting that his lack of trophies should count against him in the race.

“You are all just waiting for one thing, for him [Kylian Mbappé] to win the Ballon d’Or in a year when he hasn’t won anything,” Latour said.

He went further in his criticism, adding: “I am telling you, that would be a shameful Ballon d’Or.”

Latour’s comments have brought renewed attention to the debate over the criteria used to determine the winner of football’s most prestigious individual honour. While individual performances, goalscoring records and consistency are important considerations, team achievements often feature prominently in discussions about who deserves the award.

Mbappé remains one of the leading contenders for the 2026 prize, having established himself as one of the most prominent forwards in world football. However, his prospects have come under scrutiny because of his failure to win trophies during the year, according to Latour’s assessment.

The French international faces strong competition from Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, who are also among the leading names in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

Kane’s goalscoring performances for Bayern Munich and Yamal’s influence at Barcelona have strengthened their positions in the race, setting up a competitive contest ahead of the ceremony.

For Mbappé, winning the Ballon d’Or would represent a major individual milestone in his career. Nevertheless, Latour’s remarks underline the disagreement surrounding whether personal brilliance should outweigh the absence of major team honours.

The debate is particularly significant given the stature of the Ballon d’Or, which recognises the outstanding footballer of the year. While some observers place greater emphasis on individual statistics and performances, others believe success in major competitions should carry considerable weight.

With the ceremony approaching, Mbappé, Kane and Yamal remain central figures in discussions about the award. Latour, however, has made his position clear: he believes awarding the 2026 Ballon d’Or to Mbappé despite his lack of trophies would be an unacceptable decision.

The final outcome will determine whether the voters favour individual performance or place greater importance on collective success during the year.