Football: Mourinho believes Mbappé deserves the 2026 Ballon d'Or

The Real Madrid coach launched the campaign on Saturday in favor of French superstar Kylian Mbappé for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, believing that this award should go "to the best player in the world" and not to the winner of the World Cup or the Champions League.

"The best players in the world, there are two, three, or four, and we know who they are: they are here. And for me there is one who, individually, has made history this summer," said Mourinho, referring to Mbappé, who this summer became the top scorer in World Cup history.

The captain of the French team, top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup last season without winning any trophies, is among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or, alongside English striker Harry Kane, Spanish world champion Rodri or Parisian European champions Ousmane Dembélé and Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia.

Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick on Wednesday against Real Sociedad (4-1) to kick-start his season, is also on the front page of the Madrid sports daily AS on Saturday: "Mbappé aims for the Ballon d'Or".

According to his coach, already charmed by the French striker, "you can't give the Ballon d'Or to a player just because he won the Champions League or the World Cup".

"For me, a Ballon d'Or winner must be one of those players who, when he stops his career, will be missed for eternity. Maradona, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Zizou...", he said.

"If we want to reward the Champions League, then let's give it to Luis Enrique. For the Spanish national team, let's give it to Mr. De la Fuente. The best player in the world is something else entirely: and he is neither at PSG nor in the Spanish national team," Mourinho repeated.

AFP