Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence over the decision to award Rodri the Ballon d'Or over Vinicius Jr, who for many was the overwhelming favourite last year. 

The Ballon d'Or is given to the best player over the calendar year, as voted for by journalists and publications from around the world, with Lionel Messi winning a record eight gongs. 

Though it is meant to celebrate one player's exploits over 12 months, it often ends up being awarded to a player who has excelled themselves at at least one major tournament.

For example, Rodri won the 2024 European Championships with Spain, the Premier League with Man City and the Club World Cup. 

However, with Vinicius and Real Madrid winning the Champions League and LaLiga, he was the heavy favourite, only to be spurned for Rodri, a decision which saw Real Madrid incredibly boycott the event and send nobody to pick up their team award.

As such, Vinicius' Real Madrid team-mate Mbappe was asked about the Ballon d'Or in an exclusive interview with Le Parisien, and revealed what he made of Rodri winning the award. 

'What is a Ballon d'Or player? Rodri, do you consider a player to be a Ballon d'Or? I thought the Ballon d'Or would go to Vinicius, but in the end it went to Rodri. If I had told you three months earlier, you would have said, "What the hell are you talking about?",' he said.

'Today we don't know who the Ballon d'Or is going to go to, except that no one should be excluded, that all players can be awarded, maybe even a goalkeeper,' he added.

A goalkeeper has not won the award since Lev Yashin back in 1963, and it has been dominated by strikers or wingers in the last two decades. 

Since 2025, only five non-forward players have won the award; Pavel Nedved (2003), Fabio Cannavaro (2006), Kaka (2007), Luka Modric (2018), and Rodri (2025).

Mohamed Salah was thought to have been one of the front-runners for the award this year, however with Liverpool out of the Champions League, and the Africa Cup of Nations taking place two months after the Ballon d'Or is given out, his chances could be slim. 

Real Madrid stars Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Mbappe himself will likely be up there if their side can clinch the Champions League and LaLiga, though Barcelona's Raphina has been in exceptional form and has a chance at both competitions, too.

Harry Kane will also have a good shout after another staggering season with Bayern Munich and Ousmane Dembele has been one of Europe's most lethal forwards, however it will likely depend on the outcome of the Champions League.