Kylian Mbappe has reportedly set a new French football record at the 2026 Ballon d’Or, securing a place in the award’s top 10 for the ninth consecutive year and extending his remarkable run of consistency among the sport’s elite players.
The Real Madrid striker’s feat is a record for a Frenchman, according to Stats du Foot. He has remained in the pole position for a long time, underlining his importance in the football world after all these years of great performances in the club and international arena. The announcement follows the 70th Ballon d’Or rankings, which have also been in the news.
Players such as Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham (11th) and Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi (12th) are amongst those to depart from the top 10. Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi finished 13th, while Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Vitinha were respectively in 14th and 15th. Other players who showed up on the published rankings were Vinicius Junior (17th), Joao Neves (19th) and Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho (20th). The finishes highlight the fierce rivalry for the top spot in football, with some of the old timers and new faces competing for the top positions.
But what’s notable about Mbappe’s reported streaks is that they’re not going away anytime soon, keeping him in the mix when it comes to the world’s best players. His ability to run at goals, finish and play a decisive role in big games has also been noted by the French forward. If he keeps his top-10 streak, going undisturbed, he would extend his top-10 streak to nine straight editions of the award. Mbappe’s performance marked another milestone in his already prolific career, which has seen him secure numerous domestic and international accolades.
