Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has publicly backed Kylian Mbappe to win this year’s Ballon d’Or. Mourinho contends that the prestigious individual award should be reserved for the world’s premier player, rather than being determined by success in the Champions League or the World Cup.
Mourinho’s Stance on Individual Excellence
Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Malaga, Mourinho stated, “The best players in the world, there are two, three or four of them, and we know who they are: they’re here.” He specifically cited Mbappe, who made history this summer by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
- Mbappe finished last season as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the 2026 World Cup, despite not winning a major trophy.
- The France captain recently scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad and appeared on the front page of the sports daily AS under the headline: “Mbappe targets the Ballon d’Or.”
- Mourinho’s rivals for the award include Harry Kane, Rodri, Ousmane Dembele, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“You cannot give the Ballon d’Or to a player simply because he won the Champions League or the World Cup,” Mourinho asserted. “For me, the Ballon d’Or should go to one of those players who, when they retire, will be missed forever. Maradona, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane…”
Mourinho further clarified his position by suggesting that if the award were meant to reward team success, it should go to managers like Luis Enrique or Luis De la Fuente. “The best player in the world is something else, and he is neither at PSG nor in the Spain team,” he added.
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