Football NewsThe GuardianUnverified source· 29 Aug 2026
Mourinho backs Mbappé for Ballon d'Or, says he's making history
Real Madrid boss José Mourinho insists Kylian Mbappé deserves the Ballon d'Or, not someone from PSG or Spain.
Kylian Mbappé
player
Who
José Mourinho
What
Says Mbappé should win Ballon d'Or
When
Saturday before Málaga game
Where
Real Madrid press conference
What happened. José Mourinho said Kylian Mbappé deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or, arguing the award should go to the best player in the world, not be decided by World Cup or Champions League success.
- Mourinho: 'The best player in the world is not at PSG or Spain'
- He said Mbappé is 'making history'
- Comments made before Real Madrid's La Liga game against Málaga
“The best players in the world, there are two, three or four of them, and we know who they are: they're here.”
— José Mourinho
Mourinho's comments add to the debate over the Ballon d'Or, with Mbappé a strong contender after his World Cup heroics.
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