Kylian Mbappé has received exactly what he said football was entitled to provide: disagreement.

The Real Madrid forward openly backed himself to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after being asked who should receive the individual award.

Mbappé said he would vote for himself, pointed towards his scoring record and argued that becoming the leading goalscorer in World Cup history would remain in people’s minds.

He also acknowledged that Real Madrid ended last season without a major trophy and accepted that other people were free to reach a different conclusion.

“This is not a dictatorship,” he explained.

Former France international Christophe Dugarry has now exercised that freedom with considerable enthusiasm.

“To publicly ask for an individual award like that, I find it childish and pathetic,” Dugarry said.

The 1998 World Cup winner argued that there was nothing admirable about publicly requesting recognition, particularly when the player doing so is captain of his national team.

Dugarry also criticised football’s increasing focus on individual achievement, suggesting Mbappé should instead discuss collective success and the trophies his teams failed to win.

His objection appeared to concern the campaigning rather than whether Mbappé possesses a credible case.

The 27-year-old scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid last season and made further history with France during the World Cup. He has never won the Ballon d’Or, with third place in 2023 remaining his best finish.

Mbappé’s position is relatively straightforward. The Ballon d’Or is presented to one player, he considers himself the best player and therefore sees no reason to nominate somebody else.

Dugarry’s position is that believing those things privately is acceptable, but announcing them publicly represents an unnecessary contribution to football’s growing individualism.

Mbappé invited people to form their own opinions because football does not operate under a dictatorship of thought.

Dugarry has responded by demonstrating just how far in the opposite direction one opinion can travel.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in October. Mbappé has already disclosed his vote, while Dugarry appears unlikely to be supporting the same candidate.