Mbappé Deserves This Year’s Ballon d’Or, Says Mourinho

Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has backed Kylian Mbappé to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, arguing that the prestigious individual award should recognise the best player rather than simply reward success in the Champions League or World Cup. Mourinho believes Mbappé’s individual achievements during the past year make him the strongest candidate.

José Mourinho has thrown his support behind Kylian Mbappé in the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or, insisting that the Real Madrid forward deserves recognition for his outstanding individual achievements.

Mourinho made his position clear ahead of Real Madrid’s latest LaLiga fixture, arguing that the award should primarily celebrate the world's best individual player rather than automatically favouring someone who happens to have won a major team trophy.

Mourinho Backs Mbappé

Mourinho believes Mbappé has done enough to claim football's most prestigious individual prize.

The French captain enjoyed an exceptional year, finishing as the leading scorer in LaLiga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup despite Real Madrid and France failing to win a major trophy.

For Mourinho, those individual achievements carry greater weight than simply pointing to the trophy cabinet.

World Cup Record Strengthens His Case

One of the strongest arguments in Mbappé's favour is his performance at the 2026 World Cup.

The Real Madrid forward became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, adding another major individual record to an already remarkable career. Mourinho specifically referred to that achievement when explaining why he believes Mbappé deserves the award.

Mourinho Rejects Trophy-Only Argument

Mourinho also challenged the idea that winning the Champions League or World Cup should automatically determine the Ballon d’Or winner.

His argument is that team trophies measure collective success, while the Ballon d’Or should recognise the player who performed at the highest individual level.

He pointed to legendary names such as Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazário, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane as examples of players whose individual brilliance made them stand out beyond the trophies they won.

Mbappé Faces Strong Competition

Mbappé is not without serious competition.

England captain Harry Kane, Spain midfielder Rodri and Paris Saint-Germain stars Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the other leading contenders being discussed for the award.

The debate is therefore likely to continue until the final voting and announcement.

Another Strong Start For Mbappé

Mbappé has also continued his excellent form into the new season.

He recently scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 4–1 victory over Real Sociedad, further strengthening the momentum behind his Ballon d’Or campaign.

His continued goalscoring has ensured that the discussion surrounding his candidacy remains firmly in the spotlight.

Mourinho's Message Is Clear

For Mourinho, the question is not simply which player lifted the biggest trophy.

The Portuguese coach believes the award should go to the footballer whose individual performances made the greatest impact and whose talent placed him above the rest.

By that measure, Mourinho believes Mbappé is the outstanding candidate.

Ballon d’Or Debate Intensifies

Mourinho's endorsement adds another high-profile voice to an already intense Ballon d’Or debate.

Mbappé's record-breaking World Cup, prolific club campaign and continued goalscoring form give him a compelling case, while his rivals can point to their own achievements and contributions.

Ultimately, the final decision will be made through the Ballon d’Or voting process, but Mourinho has made his preference unmistakably clear.

For the Real Madrid manager, Kylian Mbappé deserves this year's Ballon d’Or because of what he has achieved individually, regardless of whether he finished the season with the biggest team trophies. With his World Cup scoring record and remarkable goalscoring form for Real Madrid, Mbappé enters the final stage of the debate as one of the strongest contenders for football's most coveted individual honour.