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

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

Mourinho was speaking to the media after Madrid’s 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Portuguese is seeking to end Los Blancos’ trophyless run, as they have not won any major silverware in the last two years.

This is the argument that critics are using to rule out the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior from the race for the Ballon d’Or.

But Mourinho said: “For me, the best player in the world can also be one without trophies.”

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