Jose Mourinho has reignited the Ballon d’Or debate with a blunt message about what he believes should determine football’s most prestigious individual prize.
The Portuguese manager argues that the award should not simply be handed to a player because his team lifted the Champions League or World Cup.
For Mourinho, the Ballon d’Or should recognise something bigger: a footballer whose individual brilliance is so extraordinary that his absence would be felt long after retirement.
And he has pointed to some of the game’s biggest icons as the benchmark.
Mourinho’s argument is unlikely to please everyone, particularly in a year when club and international success could heavily influence the voting.
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss believes history should matter when judging the game’s greatest individual players.
“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…,” he said.
“You can’t give the Ballon d’Or to a guy just for winning the UCL or the World Cup.
“If you should give it to someone just for winning the UCL, then give it to Luis Enrique.
“No, it needs to go to the best player in the world, not necessarily a Spanish guy, or a PSG player.
“It needs to go to one of the 3-4 best players in the world, and those guys are HERE. But politics come into the Ballon d’Or, so I don’t like getting into politics.”
Mourinho’s biggest point is that team trophies should not automatically equal individual recognition.
Winning the Champions League is arguably the biggest achievement in European club football, while lifting the World Cup remains the ultimate international prize.
But football is a team sport. A player can win major trophies while not necessarily being the best individual performer in the world.
That distinction sits at the heart of Mourinho’s argument.
His reference to Luis Enrique adds another layer to the debate.
If winning the Champions League were enough to determine the Ballon d’Or winner, Mourinho suggests the award could just as easily go to the manager who guided the team to European glory.
Instead, he wants the focus firmly placed on individual quality.
Perhaps the most explosive part of Mourinho’s comments is his suggestion that politics can influence the Ballon d’Or.
The award has generated controversy for years, with fans, players and pundits regularly debating whether performances, trophies, reputation, popularity or narrative carry the greatest weight.
Mourinho clearly believes the process should be about identifying the best footballer rather than rewarding a particular nationality, club or competition.
He also deliberately avoided naming a specific player.
Instead, he pointed towards the small group he believes currently belongs among the world’s elite. That leaves plenty of room for debate.
The Ballon d’Or conversation is rarely quiet, but Mourinho’s intervention has added another fiery opinion to an already heated discussion.
His standard is straightforward: the winner should be the player whose talent stands above the rest and whose greatness will be remembered forever.
That is a much higher bar than simply counting medals.
Whether voters agree with Mourinho is another matter.
But one thing is certain: his comments have ensured the Ballon d’Or debate will remain firmly in the spotlight.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
