Pepe puts Vinicius Junior at the centre of the Ballon d’Or argument

The debate over the identity of the world’s best player has intensified after Jose Mourinho backed his Real Madrid players in the Ballon d’Or discussion, while club great Pepe argued that Vinicius Junior should rank above Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Erling Haaland.

Mourinho was asked about the prestigious individual award during a news conference and was expected to support players from Real Madrid rather than candidates associated with Paris Saint-Germain or the Spain national team.

The Portuguese coach said winning major international or club honours should not, by itself, determine who receives the Ballon d’Or.

“You cannot give the Ballon d’Or to a player simply because he won the Champions League or because he won the World Cup,” Mourinho said.

He went on to suggest that the leading candidate did not necessarily have to come from Paris Saint-Germain or Spain.

“The best player in the world does not necessarily have to be from Paris Saint-Germain or from the Spanish national team. There are two, three or four players who can be considered the best player in the world, and we know who they are and where they are. They are here. We also know who the player is who made history individually this summer.”

Mourinho also questioned whether the award could be influenced by factors beyond performances on the pitch.

“As for the Ballon d’Or, it is also something that may be governed by politics. And when politics enters the matter, I do not like it very much.”

According to Defensa Central, Mourinho’s comments reflect the view held by many Real Madrid supporters, as well as the opinions of some former players connected with the club.

One of those former players is Pepe, who has been linked during the summer with a possible role on Mourinho’s coaching staff. The former Portugal defender was asked to take part in a short comparison exercise involving several leading players.

Pepe made clear that Vinicius Junior was his preferred choice, although he ultimately placed the Brazilian forward in the same category as Kylian Mbappe.

“Vinicius is better than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Haaland, and I put him at the same level as Mbappe,” said the former Portugal player.

The assessment places Vinicius Junior ahead of two players associated with Barcelona and Spain, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, as well as Haaland, while reserving a comparable status for Mbappe.

The comments add another voice to a Ballon d’Or debate in which success with Paris Saint-Germain, achievements with Spain and individual performances have all been presented as possible factors. Mourinho’s position is that the award should not be decided solely by Champions League or World Cup success, while Pepe has made his preference for Vinicius Junior explicit.

The wider discussion about the players and the latest football news was also directed towards the Kooora forums, where supporters can debate the subject in greater depth.