2026 Ballon d’Or: Hoeneß names players in top 30 that don’t deserve award

Bayern Munich honorary president, Uli Hoeneß, has claimed that Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe don’t deserve to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Hoeneß said this in an interview with the Munich-based tabloid Abendzeitung.

According to him, England captain, Harry Kane should go home with the award this year.

Hoeneß argued that Messi has not done enough to win it, while Mbappe finished the season without any trophy.

“I think giving Messi the Ballon d’Or for a fifth time would be nonsense!” Hoeneß said.

“Mbappé? They didn’t win a single title, while we won two.”

Messi, Mbappe and Kane all made the 30-man nominees’ shortlist for the award that would be handed out next month.