France's Kylian Mbappé has won the "Onze d'Or" award, presented by French magazine "Onze Mondial" following a vote among its readers. The Real Madrid forward secured 48.2% of the votes, comfortably ahead of Portugal's João Neves, who received 11.9%. Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came third with 10.8%, while Spain's Lamine Yamal finished fourth with 9.7%.
Following the ceremony, Mbappé spoke to the magazine about the key moments of a career that has now spanned more than a decade at the highest level. He discussed his understanding of success, the criticism directed at him and the foundations of his confidence, emphasizing that his greatest satisfaction comes not from goals or trophies, but from the fact that his love for the game has never faded.
The striker, whose name now joins those of previous winners such as Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, said: "I think we also played to make the fans happy. Knowing that you were able to enjoy yourself more than anyone else is always satisfying."
When asked to evaluate his career to date, Mbappé gave himself a perfect score of 10 out of 10. As he explained, the true worth of his journey cannot be measured solely by his accomplishments, but also by the difficult experiences along the way.
He added: "I give it a 10, because a career is lived in all its details, in the good moments and the bad ones alike. The first thing I remember is not the goals I scored or the titles I won, but that throughout these 10 or 11 years I have never been bored. I did not treat what I was living through as something ordinary, but always lived it in all its details."
Why do some people not like you?
Earlier in his career, criticism had a much greater impact on Mbappé. The French forward acknowledged that negative reactions used to affect him more deeply before he gradually learned to understand why people viewed him differently.
He said: "When you are younger, you wonder why there are people who don't like you, and why you don't do things that would make them like you. You don't understand it well, and you can't distance yourself enough from the matter to see it from a different perspective."
He continued: "Now, I have acquired this perspective, and I understand that there are people who don't try to analyse things, but simply act in this way. The most important thing is to be true to your values, and along the journey you make mistakes, you can't avoid them all, and you have to accept the possibility of failure."
Mbappé responds sarcastically to the image of the perfect player
Mbappé also dismissed the idea that he is incapable of making mistakes. Using his characteristic sense of humour, he challenged that perception before explaining that what people see in his media appearances does not necessarily reflect his true personality.
He said sarcastically: "Those who think I'm perfect don't watch television," before adding: "I have proven time and again that I can be wrong, and that doesn't bother me. I think that's a good thing."
According to the Frenchman, television appearances alone cannot provide an accurate picture of the person behind the footballer. He added: "No one really knows you through television, and that's why some analyses are sometimes completely detached from reality."
Why does Mbappé insist he is the best in the world?
Mbappé's recent declaration that he considers himself the best player in the world generated considerable discussion, prompting him to explain the thinking behind his statement. He insisted that his confidence stems from his competitive mindset and determination to succeed rather than any desire to provoke controversy.
Mbappé said: "I know the history and culture of my country, and so I know what comments of this kind can provoke. When I say it, it's because I believe in it, and because it motivates me."
He added: "To achieve great things, you can't enter the competition believing that others are capable of performing better than you. That means you are restricting yourself and placing a barrier in front of yourself. That is my mentality."
I have lived the life I always wanted
When asked whether he was happy with his life, Mbappé answered without hesitation. Despite the obstacles and unexpected changes he has encountered throughout his career, he believes he is living the dream he had as a child.
He said: "Of course, I am a happy man. I have lived the life I always wanted. I always wanted to become a footballer, and certainly, it requires adapting to circumstances, and there are unexpected events, but I achieved my dream. What more could you ask for?"
He continued: "In life, you have to be happy with what you have, and I am very happy with what I have. I hope I can hold on to it."
Reflecting on his childhood, Mbappé also spoke about how he perceived football before becoming a professional. His experiences at the highest level have inevitably changed his perspective, but he has remained determined to preserve the feeling that inspired him to play in the first place: the pure enjoyment of the game.
He said: "Of course I don't have the same vision I had when I was a child, and fortunately so, because if I had kept it I would be extremely naive."
The one thing he insists he has never lost is "the joy and passion for playing". Despite the pressures, difficulties and less appealing aspects of the football world, Mbappé maintains that his passion for the game remains intact.