Kylian Mbappe has never been short of confidence in his own ability, and his goalscoring record continues to place him among the most prominent names in world football.

However, there is a difference between believing you deserve individual recognition and making that pursuit the defining part of your season.

The Real Madrid forward was among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the award ultimately going elsewhere after a closely contested vote. While his performances attracted plenty of attention, the way he presented his case has now come under scrutiny from a former international teammate.

And Bixente Lizarazu has been particularly outspoken about what he believes went wrong.

Lizarazu questions Mbappe’s approach to Ballon d’Or campaign

Former France international Bixente Lizarazu has criticised Mbappe’s attitude during the build-up to the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, suggesting the forward became too focused on his individual achievements.

Speaking to Franceinfo after the ceremony, Lizarazu explained that his opinion of Mbappe had changed during the campaign.

“I defended Mbappe a lot last season, when he was still being heavily criticised from all sides,” Lizarazu said (via RM4Arab).

“He had a good World Cup, and I thought he was consistent in his role as France captain, with a message focused on teamwork. But during the Ballon d’Or campaign, he completely lost control.”

The former Bayern Munich and France defender was particularly unimpressed by what he perceived as a shift towards self-promotion.

“I didn’t like the direction he took at all. He became too focused on individual matters, showed a lack of humility and engaged in self-promotion, somewhat ignoring the others.”

Lizarazu added: “We were left with the impression that he was the only one who mattered, as though the others didn’t exist.”

His comments raise questions about how players should balance individual ambition with their responsibilities to the collective. Mbappe is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the sport, but Lizarazu believes the way he pursued the award risked overshadowing the team-focused qualities expected of a captain.

Why Mbappe’s goalscoring record was not enough

Mbappe’s individual numbers were not the issue. The Frenchman enjoyed another productive campaign in front of goal, but his season ultimately lacked the collective achievements that often strengthen a Ballon d’Or case.

He finished second in the voting, just 28 points behind eventual winner Harry Kane, with the Bayern Munich striker claiming the award in London.

The narrow margin underlined how competitive the race had been, but Lizarazu believes the discussion around Mbappe should extend beyond his personal statistics.

“Kylian Mbappe has gone through periods when he hasn’t managed to make his team win,” he argued.

“He scores a lot of goals, but he has to make his team win. That is the most important thing.”

It is a significant criticism, particularly given the expectations placed on Mbappe since his arrival at Real Madrid. His reputation has been built on delivering in the biggest moments, and his goalscoring ability is a major reason why he remains such an influential figure.

However, there is an important distinction between questioning a player’s influence on team results and holding them solely responsible for a lack of trophies.

Mbappe cannot be expected to win matches single-handedly, and his individual performances should not be dismissed simply because Real Madrid failed to secure silverware. His brace against Barcelona, for example, demonstrated the impact he can have in high-pressure fixtures.

Collective success depends on far more than one forward, even when that player is the centre of attention.

Can Mbappe turn criticism into Ballon d’Or motivation?

The criticism could provide Mbappe with another incentive heading into the next campaign.

At Real Madrid, the expectation is always to compete for the biggest trophies, and the forward will be determined to combine his individual output with greater team success.

The challenge is not necessarily to score more goals, but to ensure those performances contribute to a season that delivers silverware.

If Real Madrid can challenge consistently across domestic and European competitions, Mbappe will have a stronger platform from which to pursue another Ballon d’Or.

There is also the question of his leadership. As one of the club’s most influential players and a central figure for France, his ability to bring teammates into the conversation will remain an important part of how his performances are judged.

Lizarazu’s comments may be harsh, but they highlight a wider debate about individual awards. Goals and statistics matter, yet the Ballon d’Or has traditionally recognised players who combine outstanding personal performances with a meaningful impact on their teams.

Mbappe has already demonstrated that he possesses the quality to win the award. The next step is to turn that individual brilliance into collective success and leave little room for the same criticism when the 2027 race comes around.