Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has hailed Kylian Mbappé as an exceptional talent after the France captain narrowly missed out on the 2026 Ballon d’Or, finishing behind Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane.
Key takeaways
- Harry Kane received the 2026 Ballon d’Or at a ceremony in London last Monday.
- Mbappé placed second in the voting for football’s leading individual award.
- Mourinho described the Real Madrid striker as the greatest player in World Cup history.
- The French forward holds the record for the most goals scored in FIFA World Cup competition, with 22.
- Mbappé previously claimed the World Cup Golden Boot after outscoring Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
Mourinho highlights Mbappé’s World Cup standing
Speaking before Real Madrid’s LaLiga meeting with Racing Santander on Sunday, Mourinho argued that Mbappé’s record on football’s biggest international stage sets him apart from other modern greats.
“Kylian is unique,” Mourinho said. “Players such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo and Platini have each won the Ballon d’Or more than once. There is a Ballon d’Or every year, but there can be only one greatest player in the history of the World Cup.”
Record goal haul strengthens his case
Mbappé, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, is now FIFA World Cup history’s leading scorer, having registered 22 goals in the tournament.
He also secured the Golden Boot as the competition’s highest scorer, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi of Argentina. While Kane’s Ballon d’Or success denied Mbappé the award this year, Mourinho’s comments underlined the Frenchman’s continued stature in international football.
