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Kylian Mbappe is only a “top three” player in the world right now, according to former France international Bacary Sagna, with the Real Madrid and France superstar tipped to miss out on Ballon d’Or honours once again in 2026. Harry Kane is among the main contenders for the award, but Sagna has passed over the Bayern Munich striker when naming his choice for Golden Ball glory.

Ballon d'Or 2026: Kane & Rodri in the mix

The tag of ‘best player on the planet’ is often handed to someone who wins a major global title in a World Cup year. That brings Spain’s standout performers firmly into the conversation after their success on North American soil this summer. Rodri - who claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2024 - and his new Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal will both be targeting the prize.

Kane, who struck 61 goals for Bundesliga champions Bayern last season, has also moved himself towards the front of the race, but he missed out on Champions League success in 2026.

Paris Saint-Germain retained that title by going back-to-back, which means Ousmane Dembele could potentially do the same in the Golden Ball race, while another gifted team-mate at Parc des Princes could yet rise to the top.

Who is the best player on the planet?

Sagna believes that could happen. The former Arsenal, Manchester City and France defender told GOAL, when asked whether fellow countryman Mbappe would deserve the Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world at present: “For me the best at the minute, he's in the top three. He had an amazing year and he is for me one of the best. But being a striker gives more chances to score, so more chances for the people to look at him favourably.

“For me, Kvara deserves the Ballon d'Or. For me, Kvara [Khvicha Kvaratskhelia] has been phenomenal and being a winger and having such an impact and successful campaign. Apart from winning the Champions League, I think football players will agree that Kvara was the most important player last season.

“Of course Kylian had an amazing World Cup and I was pleased to see him scoring so many goals, not only because he's French but because I love football and when I see him shining the way he's starting the season, that's his standard, that's his level and he is in the top few players. He might be the the top, the best player in the world, but the problem is how impactful were you for your team last season?”

Will Mbappe ever win the Ballon d'Or?

Real Madrid have now gone two seasons without winning a major trophy, despite seeing ‘Galactico’ frontman Mbappe collect two La Liga Golden Boots and score 90 goals in 106 appearances.

Asked whether the former Monaco and PSG star will ever get his hands on the Ballon d’Or - having only finished in the top three of the voting once before - another former France international, Louis Saha, recently told GOAL: “That's a difficult one, because for sure he wants to win those trophies. He knows that by winning the Champions League, you have a greater chance to win the Ballon d'Or. He knows that that's the way to put all the qualities in front of the best eyes to be judged.

“I do understand that the pressure is on because now it's been almost a very controversial way of not being in those finals. He left the club that won it and now going to a club which is supposed to be one of the favourites, and they don't reach the finals.

“It's starting to question a little bit on the personal side. Let's say on the spiritual side, he seems to be a black cat in a way. So that's the bad line that he wants to rectify as quickly as possible.

“It's always nice to see someone succeed and reach their goals when they have the potential. I think he deserves it. Regardless of people criticising his style of play, he wants to have everything.

“Every situation needs to be about him and that's the proof of greats. But sometimes if things don’t work out, it's easy to criticise. If Cristiano couldn't convert all these trophies that he had over the years, he would have been doomed a long time ago.”

Record-breaking Mbappe chasing trophies

Mbappe made history at the 2026 World Cup by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. He also holds the same record for the France national team and for Ligue 1 giants PSG.

He has already scored a hat-trick for Real this season, against Real Sociedad, and those exceptional individual standards are expected to continue as Jose Mourinho looks to guide Los Blancos back to winning silverware and put his talismanic No.10 firmly in the frame for a Ballon d’Or nomination.