The Best Player Can Be The One Without A Trophy - Jose Mourinho

The Real Madrid manager believes individual brilliance must remain at the heart of the prestigious award, arguing that a player can be the best in the world even if his team finishes the season without silverware.

Mourinho’s comments come as Kylian Mbappé name remains in the race as one of the leading contenders for this year’s prize.

The French forward enjoyed a remarkable individual campaign but ended the season without a major club trophy, a factor that could traditionally count against his chances.

For Mourinho, however, trophies should not overshadow individual excellence.

“You cannot award the Ballon d’Or to a player just because he has won the Champions League or the World Cup,” Mourinho argued, stressing that the award should identify the best individual player rather than simply reward team success.

The Portuguese coach pointed to legendary figures such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane as examples of players whose influence transcended trophies.

His argument is particularly significant given that Mbappé is competing against several stars whose teams enjoyed greater collective success.

Mourinho has also made it clear that, in his view, the Ballon d’Or should go to the player who leaves the biggest individual mark on football; not necessarily the player standing on the podium with the most medals.

With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London, the debate intensifies.