Jude Bellingham vs Vinicius Jr: Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho settles 2024 Ballon d'Or debate

Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has weighed in on the 2024 Ballon d'Or debate, backing Vinicius Jr. to win the prestigious award.

Pulse Sports Nigeria reports that the enigmatic Mourinho made the announcement during an appearance on TNT Sports ahead of the EURO 2024 tournament.

The debate over the Ballon d'Or winner has been a hot topic, with Real Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. emerging as frontrunners for the accolade.

Both players played pivotal roles in Real Madrid's dominant 2023/2024 campaign, which saw the club claim the LaLiga and Champions League titles.

Bellingham, who joined Madrid for a £100 million fee from Borussia Dortmund, scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists in his debut season.

His more experienced teammate Vinicius, 23, on the other hand, found the net 24 times and registered nine assists across competitions.

When asked who he believes should win the 2024 Ballon d'Or, the enigmatic Fenerbahce boss was unequivocal in his response:

However, Mourinho did find a way to pacify Bellingham after he predicted that the English boy will be named the Player of the Tournament at EURO 2024.

With the debate over the Ballon d'Or continuing to intensify, Mourinho's insight will undoubtedly be of great interest to fans of both players.

For Mourinho, who is one of the most decorated managers in the game, his opinion carries significant weight, and his choice of Vinicius Jr. over Bellingham will be closely scrutinised in the months to come.