Jose Mourinho wants to completely flip the Ballon d’Or on its head, saying the award should go to players we’ll remember forever, not just whoever grabbed the biggest trophy that year. The Real Madrid boss made his feelings known at a press conference, just as the announcement for this year’s winner is getting close, laying out a truly radical new idea that flies right in the face of how the voting usually goes down.
Mourinho’s “Eternal” Players vs. Trophy Hounds
Mourinho isn’t holding back. He argued winning the Champions League or the World Cup on its own isn’t enough to snag the biggest individual honor in football. He famously said, “The Ballon d’Or should go to one of those players who, when they retire, we miss them for eternity. Maradona, Cristiano, Messi, R9, Zidane.” Seriously, who can argue with that list? He even threw shade, pointing out that if it was about winning the UCL, they should have given it to Luis Enrique. Mourinho believes the award needs to go to one of the top three or four best players in the world, full stop. He openly admitted that politics always play a role in the Ballon d’Or process, and you can tell he is not a fan of that whole scene. For years, the voters have been swayed by who lifted the biggest silverware, and Mourinho thinks that’s leaving out the real legends when their teams fall short.
Mbappe’s Unstoppable Form and the Mourinho Backing
It’s no surprise Mourinho is throwing his weight behind his own star, Kylian Mbappe. And honestly, who can blame him? Mbappe made history at the World Cup this summer, tearing it up with ten goals in eight appearances. Think about that for a second: he was the first player this century to hit double figures in a single edition. That’s absolutely bonkers! An unreal level of performance, putting him in a league of his own. His individual brilliance lately has been off the charts. Last season for Real Madrid, he racked up 43 goals in 47 appearances, snagged the La Liga Golden Boot, and was the top scorer in the Champions League with a ridiculous 15 goals. He’s not slowing down either, kicking off this campaign with a hat-trick against Real Sociedad. Mourinho might say he doesn’t like “getting into politics,” but with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham all expected to be high on the shortlist, it’s pretty clear he thinks the best player on the planet is chilling right in his own locker room.
The Pressure Mounts Ahead of Malaga
But here’s the kicker: if trophies *are* still a big part of the Ballon d’Or equation, Real Madrid has been trophyless for the last two seasons. That puts a ton of pressure on Mourinho, no doubt about it. He’s got a match against La Liga newcomers Malaga coming up. All eyes will be on how his team performs. Can they turn things around and show the world that their stars are not only eternal talents but also trophy winners, proving Mourinho’s point on the pitch?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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