Five Reasons Why Kylian Mbappe Should Win the Ballon d'Or

José Mourinho used a public stance on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, to argue that the Ballon d’Or shouldn’t go simply to players who win the Champions League or the World Cup—suggesting it belongs to those who will be missed after they retire. While Mourinho didn’t name a specific candidate, the comments were widely read as a nod to Kylian Mbappé, who made history in 2026 but finished the season trophy-free. The article notes that Mbappé has campaigned aggressively for next month’s ceremony and has never finished lower than third in Spain’s Pichichi scoring while playing there. It frames 2026’s Ballon d’Or race as open to several players but with no single must-win favorite.