Mourinho Criticizes Ballon d'Or Criteria for Overemphasizing Team Success

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has criticized the criteria often used to determine the winner of the Ballon d'Or, arguing the prestigious individual award should recognize the world's best player regardless of team success. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, August 29, 2026, Mourinho stated that the honor should go to players who will be "missed for eternity when they retire," rather than being automatically awarded to members of World Cup or Champions League-winning squads. Mourinho's comments came as he previewed his team's upcoming La Liga match against Malaga. He emphasized that while team achievements are significant, they should not be the primary factor for individual recognition. "You cannot give the Ballon d'Or to players just because they won the Champions League or the World Cup," Mourinho said. He suggested that if the goal were to reward a team's success, then coaches like Luis Enrique or Spain's Luis de la Fuente, who led his national side to the 2026 World Cup title, would be more appropriate recipients. The Real Madrid manager highlighted that there are approximately 12 players at a "very high level," with three or four of them at his club.