Kylian Mbappe has placed winning the Champions League with Real Madrid ahead of the Ballon d'Or race. After the 2-1 victory over Inter at the Bernabeu on September 8, the French forward told CBS that lifting Europe's leading club trophy with his dream club was his strongest priority.
Mbappe has never won the Champions League, although he reached the 2019-2020 final with PSG. That missing honour gives the team competition particular significance. The 27-year-old still regards individual awards as an ambition and believes he has a chance, but made clear how he ranks his goals.
Against Inter, he scored the opener in the first half after a pass from Brahim Diaz. Further chances went unfinished, and some supporters expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of his combination play. Jose Mourinho defended him, praising his work and confidence that he would continue scoring.
Mourinho's support for Mbappe in the Ballon d'Or race remains the coach's judgement, not a result of the vote. For Madrid, the opening three points are only the start of a long campaign. Mbappe's task is to turn his scoring form into collective success as he pursues the trophy still missing from his career.