Jose Mourinho has stirred the football world with a bold stance on the 2025 Ballon d’Or, dismissing the frontrunners and championing two unexpected candidates.
While many see the race as a duel between Barcelona’s teenage sensation and Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League hero, the legendary Portuguese manager has other ideas, prioritizing team success over individual brilliance and snubbing the widely favored duo.
The players Mourinho backs are PSG’s Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, both of whom played pivotal roles in securing the Champions League and UEFA Nations League titles in 2024/25.
Vitinha, a 25-year-old midfielder, earned widespread praise with eight goals and five assists in 59 appearances, establishing himself as a world-class talent.
Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes, a dynamic left-back, contributed six goals and six assists in 53 games, cementing his status as one of the finest full-backs globally.
Mourinho’s endorsement of these Portuguese stars, per TNT Sports, reflects his belief that individual awards should be tied to collective triumphs.
Mourinho’s decision to overlook Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele has raised eyebrows.
Yamal, just 18, delivered a remarkable 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches for Barcelona, drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi and positioning himself as a potential record-breaking Ballon d’Or winner.
Dembele, the bookmakers’ favorite, led PSG to their first-ever Champions League title with a stellar campaign.
Yet, Jose Mourinho emphasized team achievements, stating, “Football remains about the team. Any individual trophy must have a direct connection to titles.”
When pressed to choose between Vitinha and Mendes, he refused, saying, “I love them both; I can’t tell the difference.”
As the Ballon d’Or ceremony approaches on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Chatelet, Mourinho’s comments have sparked debate.
By snubbing Yamal and Dembele, he has challenged conventional narratives, highlighting Vitinha and Mendes as deserving candidates whose trophy-laden season could reshape the race for football’s most prestigious individual honor.
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