Overview
- Mourinho spoke Saturday at a Real Madrid pre-match press conference and said the Ballon d'Or must honour individual, era‑defining brilliance rather than simply reward Champions League or World Cup winners.
- The coach explicitly backed Kylian Mbappé, saying one player "individually made history this summer," a reference cited by multiple outlets that noted Mbappé's World Cup scoring record.
- Mourinho complained the Ballon d'Or process has a "political character" and argued that if the prize is meant to reward team success it should go to coaches or teams instead.
- The intervention joins other high‑profile endorsements — Toni Kroos has backed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — and comes as the race remains open between club statistical cases and the World Cup winners.
- The award covers performances from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026, 100 journalists vote on a ranked shortlist, and the 70th Ballon d'Or will be presented in London on October 26, 2026.