Ballon d’Or: Lizarazu urges Mbappé to prioritise team
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Bixente Lizarazu believes Kylian Mbappé must abandon an overly individualistic attitude after finishing second in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite scoring 42 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid. The former France international made the criticism on TF1’s Téléfoot, according to La Nouvelle Tribune.
Former France defender Bixente Lizarazu called on Kylian Mbappé to prioritise the collective after finishing second in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, won by English striker Harry Kane. He spoke on Sunday 1 November on Téléfoot, broadcast by TF1.
Lizarazu believes Mbappé has adopted an overly individualistic attitude around the award, with self-promotion and, in his view, a lack of humility. He urged him to rediscover the “collective values” of the France team, saying that the captain of Les Bleus “does not make his teams win” despite his attacking efficiency.
The Real Madrid player scored 42 goals in 44 matches last season. He finished as top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League, while ranking behind Harry Kane and ahead of Lamine Yamal in the Ballon d’Or standings. Lizarazu also judged his World Cup successful and his captaincy of Les Bleus convincing.
The comments came the day after José Mourinho’s remarks on Mbappé’s Ballon d’Or defeat, with the Portuguese coach describing the French striker as a unique player.
