Mourinho Blasts PSG and Boldly Crowns His 2026 Ballon d'Or Favorite Among Spain's Elite

Real Madrid boss José Mourinho has strongly suggested that Kylian Mbappé deserves to claim this year's Ballon d'Or, brushing aside competing candidates from clubs and nations that captured football's most prestigious trophies.

Mourinho has made no secret of his admiration for Mbappé since the pair began working together, describing the "timeless" forward as a player of "extraordinary" ability who is capable of breaking all manner of records at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Beyond his decision to report for preseason training earlier than required—a guaranteed way to earn favor with a demanding manager like Mourinho—Mbappé's goalscoring exploits at this summer's World Cup left a lasting impression on the coach. Although France fell short of the final—a semifinal in which the skipper was effectively silenced—Mbappé secured a second Golden Boot while also cementing his status as the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

"For me, the Ballon d'Or must go to those players who, when they hang up their boots, we'll miss forever," Mourinho told reporters ahead of Real Madrid's fixture against Málaga on Sunday. "I miss [Diego] Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cristiano [Ronaldo], [Lionel] Messi, [Zinedine] Zidane, [Lothar] Matthäus..."

In Mourinho's view, "two, three or four" players of the current generation can be mentioned alongside those legendary names. Conveniently, they all happen to be at Real Madrid: "We know who they are. We know where they are—right here. We know who made history on an individual level this summer."

Jude Bellingham also had a strong World Cup showing while Vinícius Júnior stood out as Brazil's standout performer, but there is little question that this remark is a pointed reference to Mbappé, whom Mourinho had already lauded for surpassing Messi's individual scoring milestone.

Mourinho Battling History With Ballon d'Or Pick

"You can't award the Ballon d'Or simply because someone won the Champions League or the World Cup," Mourinho argued, addressing the central debate. Paris Saint-Germain may have claimed Europe's top club prize for a second consecutive season while Spain secured world glory on North American soil, but the Madrid manager attributed those successes to team effort—something that falls under the responsibility of the head coach.

"If you want to honor the Champions League, give the Ballon d'Or to Luis Enrique as the finest coach," he stated. "As for Spain, [Luis] de la Fuente certainly merits recognition. That would be the greatest tribute. Being the best player in the world is an entirely different matter. You don't need to play for PSG or Spain."

Nevertheless, history indicates that the World Cup and Champions League will carry significant weight when the Ballon d'Or is presented at a London ceremony in October.

Ballon d'Or Winners in World Cup Years

Since the award was opened to players of all nationalities in 1995, seven World Cups have taken place. On four occasions, the world champion has gone on to win the Ballon d'Or, while two of those who fell short on the global stage lifted that season's European crown. The sole outlier remains Lionel Messi's victory in 2010.

"The Ballon d'Or has a political dimension, and when politics enters the equation, I find it far less appealing," Mourinho remarked. "My position on the Ballon d'Or is already well known. The answer won't be found in Spain or at PSG. There, it's Luis Enrique or De la Fuente. The best player is someone else entirely."

Who Are the Favorites to Win the Ballon d'Or?

Mbappé is certainly among the Ballon d'Or contenders, yet labeling him a frontrunner would be an overstatement. Applying Mourinho's World Cup logic, Spain's Player of the Tournament Rodri appears to have a strong case.

The commanding defensive midfielder was outstanding throughout the summer—so much so that Real Madrid were prepared to deviate from their transfer policy of steering clear of established stars in an attempt to recruit him—though the ex-Manchester City player endured a disappointing club season in 2025–26.

PSG's Champions League-winning squad features Spain's Fabián Ruiz, who ticks both trophy boxes yet offers little else in the race to be named the planet's finest player. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was widely regarded as the most thrilling individual in Europe during a mesmerizing run to continental glory with PSG, but Georgia failed to secure World Cup qualification altogether.

In what could prove problematic for Mourinho's argument, Mbappé's most serious Ballon d'Or rival may be another player who missed out on both the World Cup and Champions League: Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich striker outscored Madrid's talisman (73 vs. 58) while guiding the Bavarians to the Champions League semifinals at Real Madrid's expense. Kane's England also beat Mbappé's France in the third-place World Cup playoff.

Kylian Mbappe vs. Harry Kane