Jose Mourinho names two players he 'can't choose between' for Ballon d'Or - 'I love both of them'

React to this story

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele are the current frontrunners for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award, but Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has tipped two of Dembele's Paris Saint-Germain team-mates as his preference to lift the award in September. The Portuguese has backed his compatriots, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, but cannot choose between the pair.

The 2025/26 football season on TNT Sports is coming: This is Not Normal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho said he would "love" for one of Paris Saint-Germain’s Portuguese duo Nuno Mendes and Vitinha to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

At the moment, their PSG team-mate Ousmane Dembele is the favourite, along with Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal.

As well as lifting the Ligue 1 title, the French domestic cup, and winning the UEFA Champions League, Dembele was a standout star for Luis Enrique’s side in their triumphant campaign, notching 35 goals and contributing 16 assists.

La Liga

Real Madrid pre-season tracker: Vinicius contract update as Mourinho rebuild takes shape

16 hours ago

The only disappointment for the French capital club was their defeat to Chelsea in the final of the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, with Cole Palmer’s brace inspiring Enzo Maresca’s men to a convincing victory.

In recent years, it has become something of a tradition for the Ballon d’Or winner to come from a side that has won the Champions League or lifted an international trophy with their national side.

In that sense, 18-year-old winger Yamal is an outlier, but his form has been so impressive that he is already being touted as a potential rival to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be considered the greatest of all time. In 2024, he won the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award as he was recognised as perhaps the most promising young talent in world football.

Yamal scored 18 goals, but finished the season with 25 assists to his name as Barcelona won a domestic double, before losing to Inter Milan in the semi-final of the Champions League. In May, he signed a contract with Barcelona that runs until 2031.

However, speaking to Canal 11, Mourinho backed his two compatriots, Mendes and Vitinha, as the players he hopes to come through.

Mourinho said: "Football, as much as we all want to make players special people, coaches special people, for me, it remains about the team.

"And for me, any individual trophy must always have a direct connection to titles."

Asked to choose between the pair, he refused, saying: "I love them both; I can't tell the difference.

"The only thing I'd say is that there's still a small group of good midfielders there, and now full-backs like that.

'Many emotions' for Wiegman as Kelly says Lionessess drama like 'a fantasy'

Video credit: SNTV

"I'd like one of them to win, obviously, but then [agent] Jorge Mendes will get mad at me because he only thinks Yamal, his player, should win."

Mourinho’s Fenerbahce will be in the mix to compete for the Champions League in the coming season, having finished second in the Turkish Super Lig.

He has been busy in the transfer market, bringing in Jhon Duran from Al Nassr after the former Aston Villa’s striker’s brief spell in Saudi Arabia.

Fenerbahce have also been linked with Jadon Sancho, at one of Mourinho’s former Premier League sides, Manchester United, though he is now believed to be close to a move to Serie A giants Juventus.

The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or will be announced in August, with the ceremony taking place the month after in Paris, on September 22.

Stream the Premier League, Men's and Women's FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

Transfers

Mourinho blocks Vinicius move, Arsenal set to make Guimaraes offer - Paper Round

25/07/2026 at 23:02

Football

'I couldn't believe it' - Mourinho opens up on 'shock' Spurs exit

26/06/2026 at 08:53