José Mourinho Backs Kylian Mbappé for Ballon d’Or, Challenging the Focus on Major Trophies

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has made a bold case for his star striker, insisting that Kylian Mbappé deserves the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that individual brilliance should carry more weight than winning the Champions League or the World Cup.

As the football world turns its attention to the upcoming awards, Mourinho’s comments have ignited a debate over the criteria used to judge the planet’s top player. The Portuguese tactician argues that the prestigious honor should celebrate generational talent and consistent excellence rather than simply rewarding players on winning teams.

A Historic Individual Campaign

Mourinho’s support for the French captain stems from an extraordinary 2025-26 season. Despite Real Madrid not lifting the Champions League trophy, Mbappé’s individual numbers were staggering: 43 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions. He finished as the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League.

“For me, there is one who, individually, made history this summer,” Mourinho said, highlighting Mbappé’s achievement in becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. With 10 goals in eight matches during the tournament, Mbappé proved his worth on the grandest stage, further cementing his status as the most dangerous attacking player in the game.

Challenging the “Trophy Bias”

The Ballon d’Or is traditionally decided based on three core pillars: individual performance, team achievements, and sportsmanship. However, Mourinho believes the current trend of automatically handing the award to players from championship-winning clubs is misguided.

“You cannot give the Ballon d’Or to a player simply because he won the Champions League or the World Cup,” Mourinho asserted. “If we want to reward the Champions League, then give it to [PSG coach] Luis Enrique. For the Spanish national team, give it to [Luis] De la Fuente.”

The veteran manager framed his argument around the legacy of the game’s greatest icons, adding, “The Ballon d’Or should go to one of those players who, when they retire, we miss them for eternity. Like Maradona, Cristiano, Messi, Ronaldo Nazário, and Zidane.”

A Competitive Field

Mbappé faces stiff competition from stars who enjoyed significant collective success this past year. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as well as Spanish midfielder Rodri, are strong contenders due to their roles in PSG’s European triumph and Spain’s World Cup glory, respectively.

Within his own dressing room, Mourinho acknowledges that he has multiple candidates, including Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham. Yet, the manager remains firm in his belief that Mbappé’s season—punctuated by a recent hat-trick against Real Sociedad—sets him apart.

As the 30-player shortlist looms, the question remains: will the voters prioritize the silverware of team triumphs, or will they heed Mourinho’s call to recognize the singular, history-making brilliance of Kylian Mbappé? For now, the French superstar remains the focal point of the conversation, heading into Sunday’s La Liga clash against Málaga in top form.