Former Ivory Coast captain, Didier Drogba, has claimed the public image of Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé could have played a role in him losing out on the 2026 Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane.
Mbappé finished 28 points behind Kane in the voting.
Drogba has now said voters considered other factors apart from quality on the pitch.
“He’s performing brilliantly at Real Madrid. Harry Kane didn’t win the Champions League either, So maybe it comes down to his public image," Drogba said.
“In France, we’re very hard on players who speak out, and Mbappé is a player who speaks out.
"Sometimes people prefer players who say less. But he should stay true to himself.”
2026 Ballon d'Or: Why Mbappé lost award to Harry Kane - Drogba