José Mourinho publicly defended Julián Álvarez amid internal conflict at Atlético de Madrid and commented on Lionel Messi’s retirement from the Argentina national team. The Portuguese coach spoke in a press conference ahead of the match against Betis, corresponding to the fourth matchday of La Liga.

What did Mourinho say about Julián Álvarez’s situation at Atlético de Madrid?

Mourinho stated that nobody knows the club better than Diego Simeone and that if a player is not satisfied, they must wait until January 1st to play again. He declared that, starting yesterday and until the end of December, Álvarez will be an important player for his team. These remarks come after the club opened disciplinary proceedings against the player due to his contractual situation and recent conduct.

How did Mourinho respond to Messi’s retirement from the national team?

The former Real Madrid manager said talking about Messi is difficult because no words can describe his quality, even at age 38 or 39 in his last World Cup. He added that Messi is one of those players you will always miss, alongside Maradona, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazário, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, and Lothar Matthäus. Mourinho insisted the Ballon d’Or should go to players who leave an eternal void upon retirement, not only to those who win trophies.

What other names did Mourinho mention as Ballon d’Or candidates?

Besides Messi, Mourinho highlighted Kylian Mbappé as a strong candidate, noting he was the top scorer in the 2026 World Cup, La Liga, and the Champions League, while also captaining France. He also mentioned Harry Kane, Rodri, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as possible contenders, though he stressed that winning the Champions League or World Cup should not automatically earn the award.

What is Atlético de Madrid’s current standing in La Liga?

The team sits third in La Liga with 7 points, from a record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses in 3 games, with a goal difference of +4 (7 scored, 3 conceded). They trail leaders Barcelona by 2 points and will face Athletic Club away on September 5, 2026. For the full schedule, visit our fixtures page.

The report was published by La Nación AR Deportes and included tweets from Pablo López (@pablolopez111) and ElDesmarque (@eldesmarque), both dated September 3, 2026.