José Mourinho chose to avoid a verbal escalation with Lamine Yamal after the Barcelona star asserted his claim to the Ballon d’Or ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé.
The question was posed to Mourinho during the pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s fixture against Elche, following previous statements from the Portuguese manager favoring Mbappé.
Mourinho responded briefly: “I cannot comment on a player’s statements. I respect all opinions, but I have nothing to add.”
Yamal had placed himself and Mbappé at the pinnacle of world football, stating: “For me, Mbappé and I are the two best players in the world, but I believe I deserve the Ballon d’Or this year because of what I achieved.”
The Spanish international bases his case on winning the FIFA World Cup and La Liga, alongside his pivotal role for Barcelona and Spain, despite acknowledging that he did not reach his absolute peak in certain World Cup matches.
Conversely, Mbappé relies on an exceptional goalscoring record, having finished as top scorer in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League while becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup finals history, despite missing out on major collective titles this season.
Mourinho had previously hinted at Mbappé’s eligibility, arguing that the Ballon d’Or should not automatically be awarded to a player from the World Cup-winning team, adding: “We know where the best player is, and we know who made individual history this summer.”
Mourinho’s decision to remain silent on this occasion appears calculated to avoid fueling further controversy, though his previous position remains unchanged as the rivalry between Mbappé and Yamal continues to dominate headlines ahead of the October 26 ceremony in London.
