José Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid, publicly expressed his opinion that Kylian Mbappé should win the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Although he did not directly name the player, Mourinho gave strong indications pointing to the French forward, who is one of the main figures of the Merengue team.
The Portuguese coach argued that the distinction should recognize players capable of leaving a lasting legacy in football, rather than exclusively rewarding those who win the main collective titles of the season. Mourinho's reference to "who made history at an individual level this summer" clearly points to Mbappé.
The numbers presented support Mourinho's argument. Since the last World Cup, Mbappé is the top scorer in the competition, with 22 goals in 22 games across three editions. The French forward has demonstrated a goal-scoring regularity that the coach considers deserving of individual recognition.
This is not the first time Mourinho has publicly expressed his support for Mbappé for the award, having previously voiced a similar opinion at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
