MADRID.- The Portuguese coach of Real Madrid, Jose Mourinholaunched the campaign in favor of the French star on Saturday Kylian Mbappé for him Ballon d’Or 2026assessing that the reward should go “to the best player in the world” and not to the winner of the World or of the Champions League European.
“The best players in the world are two, or three, or four and we know who they are and we know where they are: here. We know who, individually, has made history this summer,” declared Mourinho in reference to Mbappé, who in the North America World Cup He became the greatest scorer in the history of the tournament.
The captain of the French team, top scorer of LaLigaof the Champions League and of World Cup 2026finished last season without winning any title, but is among the candidates for the award along with the English attacker Harry KaneSpanish Rodri and the players of the Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembele and Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia.
Author of a hat-trick on Wednesday against the Royal Society (4-1), Mbappé appeared on the cover of the Madrid sports newspaper AS this Saturday: “Mbappé eyes the Ballon d’Or.”
“For me, the Ballon d’Or has to go to one of those players who, when he finishes playing, we miss for eternity. I miss (Diego) Maradonato Ronaldinhoto Ronaldo Nazarioto Cristiano Ronaldoto (Lionel) Messito “Zizou” (Zinedine Zidane), to Lothar Matthäus…”, Mourinho said.
“You can’t give a Ballon d’Or to a player because he won the Champions or because he won a World Cup. If you want to reward for winning the Champions League, give the coaches the Ballon d’Or, Luis Enriquewhich represents the team. The coach of Spain, Luis de la Fuentesurely deserves a Ballon d’Or for the coaches (…) Another thing is the best player in the world and it doesn’t have to be from PSG or the Spanish team,” argued the Portuguese.
Kane confirms negotiation
The English attacker Harry Kane confirmed this Friday that the negotiations to renew his contract with the Bayern Munichwhich for now extends until June 2027, have already begun.
Speaking to reporters after Bayern’s 5-1 win against Stuttgart On the first day of the BundesligaKane spoke about this personal issue.
“The first meeting was last week,” revealed the 33-year-old striker, one of this year’s favorites at Ballon d’Or.
Kane pointed out that “many details” must still be addressed to agree on the renewal at a club he joined in 2023 from Tottenham Hotspur where he had developed his career until then.
“I’m 33 years old. It’s probably going to be my last contract, a big contract for me,” he continued.
“Obviously, they have to make sure that I am happy and that they are happy too. There is no nervousness on either side, I am sure that we will reach a point where both sides are satisfied,” he confided.
