Mbappe, Raphinha and the Ballon d'Or Warning: When Individual Glory Cannot Save Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe enters the 2026-27 season as France's all-time leading scorer. At 27, he has 66 goals for Les Bleus and took his World Cup tally to 22 at the 2026 tournament. He scored 42 goals for Real Madrid last season and won La Liga's top scorer award for a second time. But team silverware remains elusive. That is why Ballon d'Or predictions suggest another slide, with Harry Kane, Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia rising. Mbappe has publicly argued he should be the best player on the planet, but those comments may fall on deaf ears. The contrast is Raphinha, who has 14 goals this season for Barcelona and is praised for team-first play. Frank Leboeuf told GOAL that nobody can say Raphinha is a better number nine than Mbappe, because this is Raphinha's first time in that role while Mbappe has done it for almost 10 years. However, everything Mbappe does feels for himself, while Raphinha plays for the team. When Mbappe says he wants the Ballon d'Or, it proves his critics right. Real Madrid is not playing well or winning, yet he talks about the Ballon d'Or. He should express a desire to win La Liga and the Champions League. Stop talking about the Ballon d'Or. People might say I am jealous because I did not win it, but I am fine. I am fond of Mbappe, but sometimes his media comments hurt his image. Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho has dropped six points from two defeats in seven La Liga games, six behind Barcelona. PSG have won back-to-back Champions Leagues, while Real chase a 16th European Cup. Leboeuf said it is too early to judge Real in the Champions League, noting PSG struggled early in past seasons before dominating around December. He also discussed the Madrid derby, where Atletico finished with 11 and Real with 10. He understood Real's red card but saw two red-card-worthy fouls from Atletico. He agreed with Mourinho that pictures say it all. VAR in England, France and Spain needs to wake up. Mourinho needs time, but egos and the current generation's mentality make it difficult. Barcelona have a culture of playing together since Johan Cruyff, maintained by Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman and Hansi Flick. Even if they do not focus on defending, they score so many goals. Mourinho wants a different style. In 2026 he changed Real's mentality and made them win by being tough and aggressive. It takes time to return to that mindset, and Leboeuf doubts Mourinho can repeat it with this generation. Mbappe will be central alongside Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. Whether Mourinho can turn him into a Ballon d'Or winner remains to be seen. The lesson is that individual brilliance needs collective success.