Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has challenged the idea that the 2026 Ballon d’Or should automatically go to a player who won major team trophies, arguing that individual quality and impact should carry greater weight.
Mourinho made the comments while discussing this year’s award and the leading contenders, insisting that winning the Champions League or World Cup should not, by itself, determine the winner.
“You can’t give the Ballon d’Or just because someone won the Champions League or the World Cup,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese manager argued that the award should recognise players whose individual performances make them exceptional and memorable. He said his ideal winner would be someone whose absence would be deeply felt once their career ends.
“For me, the Ballon d’Or has to be one of those players that, when he retires, we miss for eternity,” Mourinho said, citing football legends such as Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo Nazário and Zinedine Zidane as examples.
Mourinho’s comments have added another dimension to an already competitive 2026 Ballon d’Or race. The 30-player shortlist includes Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi, among other leading names.
The debate is particularly relevant because several nominees have strong cases based on both individual performances and team achievements. Kane enjoyed a prolific campaign with Bayern Munich, while Yamal helped Spain win the World Cup. Mbappé, meanwhile, remains one of the leading individual performers despite not winning a major trophy last season.
Mourinho has publicly backed Mbappé in the debate, reinforcing his argument that individual brilliance should not be overshadowed by collective success.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London. The award, organised by France Football, recognises the player judged to have delivered the best overall performance during the relevant season.
