French forward Kylian Mbappé enters the final sprint of the 2024-2025 season with Real Madrid. To win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the 26-year-old has three major missions to accomplish, according to L’Équipe, the key partner of France Football.
He is undoubtedly among the top three best players in the world right now. For several years, the French striker has been striving to win the Ballon d’Or, the ultimate individual trophy that crowns the best of the best. Often hindered by PSG’s performances on the European stage, his former club, Kylian Mbappé changed the narrative last summer by signing for Real Madrid. Tipped to join the Madrid club since 2022, the French star finally forced his departure from Paris Saint-Germain last year. Despite a challenging start in the Spanish capital, KM9 has adapted and is performing well.
Kylian’s three major challenges for the Ballon d’Or
In his first season with Real Madrid, Mbappé has already scored 30 goals with 17 matches still to play. Not really expected to reach this level so soon, he has paved a golden path towards the 2025 Ballon d’Or. And while he does not openly admit it, this distinction remains one of the key reasons for his move to Florentino Pérez’s club, which boasts the most Ballon d’Or winners in history. On Saturday, the newspaper L’Équipe, one of the main partners of France Football, the magazine that awards the trophy, revealed the three conditions for Kylian to win this year’s edition.
Naturally, the French media outlet states that Kylian Mbappé will claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or if he finishes as La Liga’s top scorer, wins the Pichichi Trophy, and secures the treble (La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey) with Real Madrid. To firmly seal his triumph, the 26-year-old would also need to score at least eight more goals to become the player with the most goals in his debut season at Real Madrid. Currently, the record stands at 37. With 30 goals so far, KM9 is well on course to break it.
Achievable objectives?
The good news for Kylian is that his team is still competing in all three major competitions mentioned by L’Équipe. Even though Real Madrid no longer controls its fate in the league, where FC Barcelona leads the standings, everything can still change. Considering that surprises can occur—especially with a Clásico still to be played in La Liga—winning all remaining matches in the league would be essential to reclaim the top spot.
In the Champions League, Real Madrid holds all the cards. After eliminating Manchester City and Atlético Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s side can overcome Arsenal in the quarter-finals. With the first leg set to take place at the Emirates Stadium on 8 April, Mbappé must shine, score, and lead his team before the return leg on 16 April at the Santiago Bernabéu. If they reach the semi-finals, Real Madrid will become a serious contender to win yet another Champions League title.
In the Copa del Rey, things are looking promising for a place in the final. Having won the first leg of the semi-final against Real Sociedad (0-1), the Madrid side will host the second leg next Tuesday. Now, they must finish the job and secure qualification for the final. Regardless, Kylian Mbappé’s performances will be crucial. If he scores plenty of goals in this final stretch of the season, the Bondy-born star will give himself every chance of winning this prestigious trophy—a first in his illustrious football career.
Additionally, with France having qualified for the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, KM9 has everything in his favour.
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