2026 Ballon d’Or: Bixente Lizarazu criticizes Kylian Mbappé for lacking humility

Six days after Kylian Mbappé finished second in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, 28 points behind Harry Kane, Bixente Lizarazu criticized him on TF1’s Téléfoot on November 1. The former World Cup winner said Mbappé had become individualistic and promoted himself during the award campaign, losing sight of the collective. Lizarazu said he wants to see the France captain focus on the team, while noting that 100 journalists from 100 countries cast the votes. Crowned in London on October 26, Kane scored 73 goals in a season and became the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.