Mourinho backs Mbappe for 2026 Ballon d’Or, calls him history-maker
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has declared that Kylian Mbappe deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, speaking ahead of his team’s LaLiga match against Malaga. Mourinho said Mbappe, who became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history during this year’s tournament, is among the best players in the world and the one who individually made history this summer. He also noted that Mbappe finished last season as the top scorer in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup, even though his team did not lift a major trophy.
This endorsement matters because Mourinho’s view adds weight to the Ballon d’Or conversation, highlighting Mbappe’s extraordinary individual achievements at a time when the award often balances personal brilliance with team success. Football fans across West Africa, many of whom follow LaLiga and international tournaments, now have a high-profile opinion to consider when forming their own views on the year’s best player.
With the Ballon d’Or voting upcoming, does Mbappe’s record-breaking goal tally and World Cup performance outweigh the lack of a team trophy, or should winners be judged more on collective success? Your answer could shape how you see the sport’s top honour.