Mourinho made these comments during a press conference ahead of the Real Madrid's La Liga match against Málaga, where he stated that the Ballon d'Or is not always awarded to the most deserving players. He implied that the award is often influenced by politics, and that the players who truly deserve it are those who play for his current club. The Real Madrid coach did not mention any specific players, but it is clear that he is advocating for his current team to be considered for the award.
Mourinho's comments come as the Ballon d'Or award is set to be given out in the coming months, with the previous edition having seen Ousmane Dembélé from the Paris Saint-Germain crowned as the best player in the world. Dembélé had a standout season, winning the Champions League, the French Championship, and the French Cup, as well as scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists throughout the season. Lamine Yamal from the Barcelona finished in second place, while Kylian Mbappé from the Real Madrid took third.
Mourinho's comments have sparked debate about the politics of the Ballon d'Or award, with some suggesting that the award is often influenced by factors other than the players' individual achievements. The Real Madrid coach's comments are likely to be seen as a challenge to the current system, and may lead to further discussion about the way the award is given out.
The Real Madrid will face Málaga in their next La Liga match, with the game taking place on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu.