Jose Mourinho Backs Two Underdogs for 2025 Ballon d’Or, Overlooks Dembele and Lamine Yamal
Despite widespread belief that the 2025 Ballon d’Or is a battle between Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal, Jose Mourinho sees things differently. The iconic Portuguese coach believes two of his compatriots — Vitinha and Nuno Mendes — are more deserving of football’s top individual honor.
Dembele is the current frontrunner after leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title, while Yamal — only 18 — dazzled with 18 goals and 25 assists in a brilliant campaign for Barcelona. Yet, Mourinho argues the award should reflect both individual brilliance and team success.
He highlights Vitinha’s impressive season, which included Champions League and Nations League wins, and praises his evolution into one of the world’s elite midfielders. Nuno Mendes, though a less likely contender, also earned both major titles and has become one of the best full-backs globally.
When asked to choose between the two, Mourinho replied:
“I love them both. For me, individual trophies must be tied to team achievements.”
In a light-hearted jab, he joked that Jorge Mendes — agent of Yamal — might be unhappy with his pick.
