Could Ballon d’Or campaigning backfire on Mbappé and Yamal?

Former France Football editor Pascal Ferré has warned that Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal’s intense Ballon d’Or campaigning could irritate voters and ultimately work against them.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or race has taken an increasingly unusual turn, with Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal both making their cases publicly ahead of the October 26 ceremony in London.

However, former France Football editor-in-chief Pascal Ferré has warned that excessive campaigning could ultimately irritate the very journalists responsible for deciding the winner.

Ferré, who previously served as one of France’s Ballon d’Or voters, believes the jury does not need to be repeatedly reminded of a player’s credentials.

“The voters of the Ballon d’Or are not naive,” he said, arguing that journalists have enough experience to assess a player without hearing “10 or 15 times” that he is the best.

He added that repeatedly occupying the spotlight can create the impression that a player is trying to pressure voters, with the campaign potentially becoming counterproductive.

Mbappé has certainly been willing to discuss his chances. In a recent interview with AS, the Real Madrid forward said he believes this is a good year for him to win the award and insisted his performances on the pitch remain his strongest argument.

He also stressed that he wants the prestigious prize to return to Real Madrid. At the same time, Mbappé was complimentary towards Yamal, describing the Barcelona youngster as a hugely talented player with a great future.

Yamal, meanwhile, has been even more direct about his own credentials. In an interview with Movistar, the Barcelona winger said he and Mbappé were the two best players in the world and claimed he deserved the award because of what he had achieved during the year.

The teenager won La Liga with Barcelona before helping Spain become world champions.Yet Yamal has also insisted that he does not need to beg voters for their support.

Earlier this month, he said the decision was ultimately in the hands of the journalists and argued that his performances for club and country should speak for themselves.

His latest comments have focused more on what the Ballon d’Or should actually reward. Yamal has argued that the award should recognise the player who stands out most on the pitch rather than simply going to someone because his team won the Champions League or because he scored the most goals.

The contrasting approaches have added another layer to an already fascinating contest. Mbappé boasts extraordinary individual numbers, having finished as the leading scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, while Yamal enters the race after winning both La Liga and the World Cup.

With the vote already generating significant discussion among journalists and former winners, Ferré’s warning raises an intriguing question: can too much campaigning eventually become counterproductive?

The answer will only become clear when the votes are revealed in London.