Mbappé Scores Hat-Trick as Real Madrid Opener Reignites Ballon d’Or Bid

Kylian Mbappé opened the current season with a commanding hat-trick against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu, reaffirming his elite goalscoring consistency despite last season’s trophy drought.

The French forward — all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history and La Liga’s top scorer for the past two seasons — entered the new campaign determined to sustain his scoring momentum, a resolve underscored by his performance in Real Madrid’s first official match.

Although major trophies eluded him last season, Mbappé has shown no sign of conceding ground, visibly channeling that determination during the Bernabéu fixture.

According to Spanish daily AS, Mbappé’s three goals restored him to the center of football’s global narrative — a position he had temporarily lost after Spain’s national team denied France a decisive blow in the World Cup.

Mbappé scored 58 goals last season: 42 in 44 appearances for Real Madrid and 16 for the French national team. That tally earned him the Golden Boot at the most recent World Cup.

Teamwork as the Foundation for Individual Honors

Mbappé and his Real Madrid teammates have collectively recognized that individual awards and team trophies hinge on cohesive, disciplined group effort — a principle successfully instilled by coach José Mourinho among a squad now widely perceived to have reclaimed its core identity.

Longstanding internal tensions have vanished, a shift confirmed by strong interpersonal bonds evident across the club’s first two official matches. Mutual gestures of camaraderie conveyed significant meaning, while Portuguese manager Mourinho publicly expressed unwavering confidence in the former Paris Saint-Germain star.

Mbappé is now the first to acknowledge his acute dependence on collective support to maintain high statistical output — a prerequisite for closing the gap toward his long-sought Ballon d’Or.

With no clear frontrunner yet established, Mbappé refuses to yield and is actively working to persuade the award’s selection panel.

Ballon d’Or Timeline and Voting Mechanics

The successor to Ousmane Dembélé — the presumed holder of the title “Best Player in the World” — is scheduled to be announced on 27 October, two months from now, should Mbappé fail to retain the honor.

This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London. Although voting criteria are anchored to performances through 19 July, developments from the opening phase of the current season will carry visible weight in the deliberations of the 100-journalist jury drawn from around the world.

No single metric governs the jury’s decision-making: votes may reflect Champions League contributions, World Cup impact, full-season output, early-season form, or club and national team honors — with no definitive weighting assigned to any category.

Mbappé currently leads public speculation as the top Ballon d’Or contender, joined on shortlists by Rodri, Harry Kane, Fabián Ruiz, and Lamine Yamal.

All factors influence candidates’ prospects — positively or negatively — without one serving as an absolute determinant. While expectations point toward a World Cup winner following the tournament held in the United States, it bears noting that World Cup triumph did not prove decisive in 2010.

Next Phase: The 30-Man Shortlist

France Football’s editorial board is set to publish, in the coming days, an official list of 30 players — from which the eventual Ballon d’Or winner will be selected.

All nominees understand that the immediate weeks ahead could significantly sway voting outcomes. A strong numerical start — coupled with prominent involvement in club victories — directly bolsters candidacy. That dynamic applies squarely to Mbappé, who currently demonstrates exceptional goalscoring accuracy.