Mourinho backs Mbappé for Ballon d'Or, citing 'history made' this summer

José Mourinho, the renowned coach, has thrown his support behind Kylian Mbappé for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, emphasizing his unique criteria for the honor. Mourinho articulated his view that the Ballon d'Or should recognize a player whose absence is profoundly felt once they retire, likening such figures to legends like Diego Maradona, Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Zinedine Zidane.

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It is a very beautiful individual thing. We have three or four Ballon d'Or level players. The Ballon d'Or has to be one of those players who, when they stop playing, we miss for eternity. I miss (Diego) Maradona, Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo Messi, (Zinedine) Zidane...

Speaking at a press conference ahead of a league match, Mourinho differentiated the Ballon d'Or from awards for collective achievements like the Champions League or the World Cup. He argued that if the focus were solely on team titles, then coaches like Luis Enrique or Luis de la Fuente would be more appropriate candidates. "The Ballon d'Or has politics, and when politics enters, I don't like it as much," he admitted, suggesting that the award is not purely merit-based.

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You cannot give the Ballon d'Or to a player for winning the 'Champions' or the World Cup. If you want to reward these titles, reward the coaches. The Ballon d'Or doubt is Luis Enrique (Martínez) or Luis de la Fuente. A player is another thing.

Mourinho specifically pointed to Mbappé's recent achievements, stating that the French forward "made history this summer" by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. This accomplishment, he implied, sets Mbappé apart from other contenders. Mourinho's stance highlights his belief in individual brilliance and historical significance as key factors for the Ballon d'Or, rather than solely team success.

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Another thing is to be the best player in the world, and it doesn't have to be from Paris Saint-Germain or the Spanish national team. The best, we already know who they are and where they are, here. And we know who made history this summer - in reference to Mbappé becoming the all-time top scorer in the World Cups.

The coach's endorsement of Mbappé underscores the young player's remarkable impact on the sport. By framing the award around players who leave an indelible mark on football history, Mourinho elevates Mbappé's status and calls for recognition of his individual contributions on the global stage.

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Then, the Ballon d'Or has politics and when politics enters, I don't like it as much.