Real Madrid coach José Mourinho says Kylian Mbappé deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or. Reporting from before Real Madrid’s LaLiga match against Málaga, Mourinho argues that the award should go to the best player based on individual quality rather than being driven mainly by major tournament or club trophy success.
Across outlets, Mourinho’s core message is consistent: he says the Ballon d’Or should reflect “the best player in the world,” and he rejects the idea that the prize should automatically reward winners of the World Cup or the Champions League. Several reports quote him saying there are “two, three or four” top players in the world and that they are all within Real Madrid’s orbit.
Some coverage adds context on why Mbappé’s case stands out this season, including references to his record-breaking World Cup and strong performances across La Liga and the Champions League. However, all sources attribute the endorsement to the same reasoning: individual brilliance should outweigh trophy haul when deciding the Ballon d’Or.
