Overview
- Mourinho, speaking at the Bernabéu on Saturday, openly launched a campaign for Kylian Mbappé as the best player in the run-up to the October 26 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
- The coach highlighted Mbappé's recent form and records, noting he was last season's top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup despite winning no team trophies.
- Mourinho rejected the idea that the award should go to players simply for winning team competitions and said that if it did, it should go to figures tied to those wins such as Luis Enrique or Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.
- He also dismissed PSG and the Spain national team as the natural homes of the best player and positioned Real Madrid players as the primary contenders, a move that heightens club-led campaigning.
- The intervention deepens a wider debate about Ballon d'Or criteria and could shape media narratives and voter focus in the months before the ceremony by shifting attention to individual legacy over recent titles.