2026 Ballon d’Or: Winner does not have to be a player who won trophies — Mourinho

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has said the subordinate who is handed this year’s Ballon d’Or does not request to person won silverware.

Mourinho was speaking to the media aft Madrid’s 2-1 triumph implicit Inter Milan successful the Champions League connected Tuesday night.

The Portuguese is seeking to extremity Los Blancos’ trophyless run, arsenic they person not won immoderate large silverware successful the past 2 years.

This is the statement that critics are utilizing to regularisation retired the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior from the contention for the Ballon d’Or.

But Mourinho said: “For me, the champion subordinate successful the satellite tin besides beryllium 1 without trophies.”

Real Madrid’s quartet of Mbappé, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Marc Cucurella each made the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist unveiled connected Tuesday.

2026 Ballon d’Or: Winner does not person to beryllium a subordinate who won trophies — Mourinho