Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, has picked his team mate, Kylian Mbappe to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

In an interview with Onda Cero’s Radioestadio Noche, Courtois insisted that Mbappe has been the best player in the world in the year under review.

The Belgian also argued that the winner should be judged on individual excellence and not the number of trophies won.

“The Ballon d’Or should be for who has been the best player in the world this year, not necessarily who won the most trophies,” Courtois said.

“For me, it is Mbappe.”

Mbappe and 29 other footballers have been nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or award, which will be handed out on October 26.