RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Jose Mourinho has called for a rethink on the Ballon d’Or. The Real Madrid boss says the award should go to players remembered for eternity, not just those who lift the biggest trophies.
Mourinho spoke at his press conference ahead of the meeting with La Liga newcomers Malaga.
With the announcement of this year’s winner drawing near, he had plenty to say.
His pitch is simple, and it goes against the way the voting usually works.
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Mourinho’s radical take on the Ballon d’Or
The tactician argued that winning the Champions League or the World Cup should not be enough on its own.
‘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,’ Mourinho 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.’
For years the voting has favoured players who won the biggest honours. Mourinho believes that leaves the true greats out when their teams fall short.
He has thrown his weight behind his own star, Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman made history at the World Cup this summer, scoring ten goals in eight appearances and becoming the first player to hit double figures in a single edition this century.
Mbappe has been on fire lately, individually. Add 43 goals in 47 appearances for Real Madrid last season, plus the La Liga Golden Boot and scoring the most (15) goals in the Champions League, and the case writes itself.
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He started this campaign with a hat-trick against Real Sociedad, carrying his form into the new season.
Mourinho does not like getting into politics, as he puts it. But with three of his players expected to feature high in the shortlist, including Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, he clearly believes the best player in the world is in his own dressing room.
But if trophies are also what’s required for a Ballon d’Or, one cannot miss that Real Madrid have been trophyless since the last two seasons.Which adds a lot of pressure on Mourinho.
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