🚨 José Mourinho on Kylian Mbappé losing the 2026 Ballon d’Or to Harry Kane: 🎙️ Interviewer: “José, do you think Kylian Mbappé was robbed of the Ballon d’Or? José Mourinho: “Robbed? I will let the people decide that. But tell me something: what more was Kylian supposed to do? He finished as the World Cup’s top scorer, the Champions League’s top scorer, and La Liga’s top scorer. Three enormous stages. Goals, pressure, responsibility. And at the end of the night, he sat there watching somebody else lift the biggest individual award in football. Not one trophy for him. Not one reward that reflected the season he had. What message does that send? “Let me be clear: Harry Kane is a fantastic striker. I respect him. But does he deserve this Ballon d’Or MORE than Mbappé? For me, no. And I know that will upset people, because football has become a place where you are not allowed to question an award without somebody accusing you of disrespect” “But awards must mean something! If a player dominates the scoring charts in the biggest competitions and still cannot convince the voters, then what exactly are we rewarding? Popularity? A beautiful story? Who people feel deserves a moment? Because if statistics, consistency and decisive performances are no longer enough, then stop pretending this award is purely about football” “The saddest part is that the Ballon d’Or is losing its importance. Fans used to argue about it for months because they believed it represented the highest standard in the game. Now, when the winner is announced, people argue about whether the award itself can still be trusted. That should frighten the organisers” “And spare me the idea that Mbappé should simply smile, clap and pretend it does not hurt. He is human. He watched a season of extraordinary achievements end without the recognition many believed he had earned. You can respect Harry Kane and still believe Mbappé deserved it more” “When the player who tops the scoring charts in the World Cup, Champions League and La Liga walks away empty-handed, you cannot blame people for questioning the entire system. If that is not enough, then tell us what is. Because right now, the biggest question is not why Mbappé lost. It is whether the Ballon d’Or still means what it used to mean.” Interviewer: “So you believe Mbappé deserved it over Kane? José Mourinho: “Yes. And people can disagree with me. That is football. But answer me honestly: if you were Mbappé, after that season, would you believe the award was decided on football alone?”

🚨 Heung-min Son on Harry Kane winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or: 🎙️ Interviewer: “Sonny, Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or. You shared some incredible years at Tottenham, building one of the most special partnerships in Premier League history. What does this moment mean to you? Son Heung-min: “Honestly, I became emotional when I saw him lift that trophy. People see Harry Kane, the goalscorer, the superstar, the Ballon d’Or winner. But I see the boy who stood beside me at Tottenham, the teammate who understood my movements without even looking at me, and the friend who made football feel so easy” “We shared so many beautiful moments. The Premier League, the Champions League, the Europa League, the goals, the assists, the celebrations, and the nights when we walked off the pitch disappointed because we wanted to win more. We dreamed together. We fought together. Sometimes, we came so close that it hurt” “And now look at us. Harry is at Bayern Munich, holding the Ballon d’Or, while I am playing in MLS. Football has taken us down different roads, but nothing can change what we shared. I may not have been beside him when he lifted that trophy, but a part of me was celebrating with him” “People used to ask whether we were the best attacking partnership in the Premier League. We never needed to answer those questions. We just played football, trusted each other and enjoyed every moment. When Harry passed me the ball, I knew what he wanted. When I made a run, he knew where I would be. That connection was special, and you cannot buy it with money” “I sent him a message after he won. I told him, ‘Harry, brother, I am so proud of you. Remember those days at Tottenham when we dreamed about nights like this? You did it. You made it. And even though we are playing in different countries now, I am celebrating as if I have won it with you. Please never forget where we started.’ “Then I told him something else: ‘Enjoy this moment, because you deserve to feel proud. And when people talk about your career, I hope they remember that before the individual awards, before Bayern Munich, and before this beautiful moment, you were my partner, my friend, and the brother I shared the pitch with.’ “Some people will never understand what we had at Tottenham. They will look at statistics and trophies. But for me, the most beautiful thing was the trust. Harry never made me feel like I was just another teammate. He made me a better player, and I hope I did the same for him. “I am happy he won the Ballon d’Or, but I am even happier that the world is finally celebrating the man I was lucky enough to call my partner. Congratulations, Harry. From Tottenham to the top of the world, brother. You will always be my number nine.” Interviewer: “Would you say those Tottenham years were the happiest years of your football life? Son Heung-min: “Some of the most special, without question. We didn’t win everything we wanted, and that will always hurt a little. But we gave the fans memories, we gave each other memories, and we built a friendship that football cannot take away. If I could go back and play alongside Harry one more time, I would say yes without thinking twice.”