Kylian Mbappé makes a bold Champions League choice, saying European glory with Real Madrid means more to him than winning his first Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid forward and France captain Kylian Mbappé made his Champions League choice clear in Madrid on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, placing European glory with Real Madrid above the Ballon d’Or after helping the Spanish giants defeat Inter Milan 2-1.

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The 27-year-old forward scored Real Madrid’s opening goal in the Champions League encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu, giving the club an early advantage before Federico Valverde added a second.

Inter Milan later pulled one back through Carlos Augusto, but Real Madrid held on for a narrow victory.

Speaking to CBS after the match, Mbappé said winning the Champions League with Real Madrid carries a special meaning because of his affection for the club.

“That is what I said yesterday about the Ballon d’Or, but winning the Champions League is even more important. I play for the club of my dreams,” Mbappé said.

“I need to win the Champions League here in Madrid, I want it more than anything.”

The declaration comes at a significant point in Mbappé’s career. Despite his remarkable individual achievements, the France captain is still searching for his first Champions League title and Ballon d’Or.

Mbappé’s credentials for the individual award are nevertheless formidable. He finished the 2025/26 Champions League campaign as the competition’s leading scorer with 15 goals in 11 appearances and received the top-scorer award before Tuesday’s match against Inter.

His opening goal against Inter also offered an immediate reminder of his scoring threat. UEFA noted that Mbappé struck with Real Madrid’s first attempt of the match after 14 minutes.

The Frenchman also remains firmly in contention for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Current rankings place Mbappé among the leading candidates after an outstanding season, although the absence of major team honours could influence the final vote.

Mbappé has not dismissed the possibility of winning the individual prize. Instead, he suggested that the award remains an important ambition, while making his preference for collective success unmistakable.

“But of course, the Ballon d’Or this year, I think it is a great opportunity. It is a good year for me,” he added.

The timing of his comments is particularly notable because Mbappé was honoured at the Bernabéu before the Inter match for finishing as the Champions League’s top scorer last season.

His 15-goal haul was his best return in a single Champions League campaign and placed him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo for the highest single-season tallies in the competition.

Real Madrid’s victory over Inter, however, was far from comfortable. Inter enjoyed long spells of possession and created several opportunities, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced crucial saves to preserve the home side’s advantage.

For Mbappé, the result provided an encouraging beginning to another Champions League campaign and a fresh opportunity to pursue the trophy that has so far eluded him.

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His message is clear: while the Ballon d’Or could crown an exceptional individual year, the Champions League remains the prize he wants most with the club he has long regarded as his dream destination.