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Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho says Kylian Mbappé is fully aware he is the "best" player in the world, even after losing the 2026 Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane, and has conducted himself with "class and respect."
Mbappé touched down in London on Monday with aspirations of claiming football's most coveted individual prize. The French superstar made history last season by becoming the first player to simultaneously top the scoring charts in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, where he also broke the all-time tournament scoring record at just 27 years old.
Despite a remarkable goal haul and an extensive media presence in the lead-up to the ceremony, Mbappé finished behind Kane in second place. The runner-up finish was already a tough result to accept, but the voting breakdown made it even harder to stomach — the Real Madrid forward lost by a mere 28 points.
Nevertheless, Mourinho insisted on Saturday that Mbappé is dealing with the outcome gracefully. "Kylian is very intelligent and mature, with a very high level of self-esteem," the Portuguese manager said at his pre-match press conference.
"At the same time, he has class. The way he acknowledged Harry's Ballon d'Or, I only saw class and respect. Knowing you're the best is one thing, but showing respect for someone who has done so much to earn a trophy is another. From Kylian, I only see class."
Mourinho Slams Ballon d'Or Voting
Mourinho praised Kane as a "great player, a great professional and a great person," but couldn't resist emphasizing how "unique" Mbappé is, particularly given his extraordinary World Cup record over the years.
"Every year we have a Ballon d'Or, but the greatest player in World Cup history is only one," Mourinho said, once again throwing his support behind his star despite the award already sitting with Kane.
However, the "Special One" reserved his sharpest criticism for Jude Bellingham's ranking. The midfielder failed to make the finalist list despite a stunning World Cup campaign with England, ending up in 11th place.
"What surprised me most about the Ballon d'Or voting was Jude Bellingham finishing 11th," Mourinho said with evident frustration. "No further comments."
Bellingham endured a difficult club season at Real Madrid, hampered by two lengthy injury spells. Yet he returned to top form on the international stage, netting seven goals for the Three Lions — more than even Kane managed at the tournament last summer.
That contribution was only enough for 11th place in the final standings. Notably, England's own Ballon d'Or voter, Henry Winter, placed Bellingham no higher than eighth in his personal top 10.
Mbappe, Bellingham Already 2027 Ballon d'Or Favorites
While both Mbappé and Bellingham endured disappointment this year, they are already building strong cases for the 2027 Ballon d'Or. The pair have been outstanding for Real Madrid under Mourinho this season and are a key reason the club has dropped points in just two games so far.
Restored to his favored No. 10 position, Bellingham already has six goal contributions this campaign — nearly half of his entire output from last season. The England star is delivering eye-catching performances week after week, most recently channeling his inner Zinédine Zidane in Los Blancos' 2–1 victory over Barcelona.
Mbappé, meanwhile, has picked up exactly where he left off last season: scoring goals at will. The 27-year-old tops the team's scoring charts with 14 goals in 13 appearances, and his brace against Barcelona brought up a century of goals in a Real Madrid shirt.
As long as both stars continue performing at this level, Real Madrid will fancy their chances of ending a two-season trophy drought. It may only take one piece of silverware for Mbappé to finally get his hands on the Ballon d'Or, given how narrowly he missed out this time without winning a single title in 2025–26.