Mourinho congratulates Kane and praises Mbappe's reaction

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho expressed his delight at England striker Harry Kane winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or, despite admitting his disappointment that French star Kylian Mbappe did not win the award, having previously endorsed Mbappe. Mbappe finished second in the voting, 28 points behind Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, who claimed the prize after an outstanding individual season, despite not winning any team trophies. Mourinho said Kane deserved the award, praising his professionalism and character, and noting that he knows the player well from their time together at Tottenham. He added that his disappointment at his player not winning the award did not prevent him from celebrating Kane's achievement, as Kane has contributed greatly throughout his career and deserves this moment. Speaking about Mbappé, the Portuguese coach pointed out that winning the Ballon d'Or might happen again for some stars, citing Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, and Michel Platini, but he emphasized that the achievement of the all-time top scorer in the World Cup remains exceptional and unique. Mourinho also praised Mbappé's reaction after losing the award, considering that the player handled the result with class, intelligence, and maturity, and showed respect for the winner despite the disappointment. He explained that acknowledging another player's right to the title, even when competing for the award, reflects a high degree of professionalism and sportsmanship. Mourinho did not hide his surprise at the ranking of Real Madrid's English midfielder, Jude Bellingham, who finished eleventh, confirming that he was speechless when he saw his position in the voting list.