Kylian Mbappé has won the 2026 Onze d'Or award after an impressive season with Real Madrid. The French forward received 48.2% of the votes from readers of Onze Mondial, finishing ahead of Paris Saint-Germain stars João Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
It is the first Onze d'Or victory of Mbappé's career, adding another individual honour to his collection. However, he still has a long way to go to match Lionel Messi, who holds the record for the most Onze d'Or awards in football history.
What Is the Onze d'Or Award?
The Onze d'Or, meaning Golden Onze, is an individual football award presented by French magazine Onze Mondial. First awarded in 1976, it recognises the best footballer through reader voting.
The award also recognises the runner-up with the Onze d'Argent and the third-place finisher with the Onze de Bronze. Over the decades, several legendary footballers have won the honour, including Michel Platini, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Complete List of Onze d'Or Winners (1976–2026)
Here are some of the most notable Onze d'Or winners throughout the award's history:
1976: Robert Rensenbrink
1977 and 1979: Kevin Keegan
1980 and 1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
1983, 1984 and 1985: Michel Platini
1987: Diego Maradona
1998, 2000 and 2001: Zinedine Zidane
2002: Ronaldo Nazário (R9)
2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018: Lionel Messi
2008 and 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo
2021 and 2022: Karim Benzema
2023: Erling Haaland
2024: Vinícius Júnior
2025: Ousmane Dembélé
2026: Kylian Mbappé
The award has not been presented every year, with several editions cancelled or skipped during its history.
Which Player Has Won the Most Onze d'Or Awards?
Lionel Messi leads the all-time Onze d'Or rankings with four wins. His victories came in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018, highlighting his remarkable consistency across different seasons.
Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane follow with three wins each. Several other football legends have won twice, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Marco van Basten, Thierry Henry, Diego Maradona, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo Nazário.
Can Mbappé Break Messi's Onze d'Or Record?
Mbappé's first Onze d'Or victory puts him among the award's distinguished winners. However, matching Messi's four titles will require sustained excellence over several seasons.
The Real Madrid forward has time to add to his tally, but future victories will depend on his performances and reader votes. For now, Messi remains the undisputed record-holder in the history of the Onze d'Or.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Onze d'Or
Who won the 2026 Onze d'Or?
Kylian Mbappé won the 2026 Onze d'Or for his performances during the 2025–26 season.
Who has won the most Onze d'Or awards?
When was the Onze d'Or first awarded?
The Onze d'Or was first presented in 1976 by French football magazine Onze Mondial.
Has Cristiano Ronaldo won the Onze d'Or?
Yes. Cristiano Ronaldo won the award twice, in 2008 and 2017.
What is the difference between the Onze d'Or and the Ballon d'Or?
The Onze d'Or is decided by readers of Onze Mondial, while the Ballon d'Or follows a separate voting process.