Real Madrid Eyes Ballon d'Or Glory for Mbappe or Bellingham

According to El Debate, Real Madrid is closely monitoring the outcomes of the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, with a strong belief within the club that a victory for either England or France would significantly boost Jude Bellingham or Kylian Mbappe's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.

The report suggests that the club's management sees England winning the World Cup as giving Bellingham a clear advantage in the race for the award, while Mbappe would be the frontrunner if France clinches the title.

This perspective is based on the events of the 2024 award, where Rodri triumphed over Vinicius Junior after contributing to Spain's Euro 2024 victory, which the management views as evidence of the significant impact international tournaments have on determining the Ballon d'Or winner.

All eyes are now on the semi-final matches, with England set to face Argentina, while France takes on Spain in the other clash.

Bellingham has been exceptional so far, leading England to the semi-finals with 6 goals, while Mbappe tops the current scoring chart with 8 goals alongside Lionel Messi.

Many believe that the outcome of the World Cup could be the decisive factor in this year's Ballon d'Or race, especially with two of Real Madrid's star players at the heart of the competition.