Former Germany international Lothar Matthäus has argued that Harry Kane deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Kane enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions and winning the German double.
The 33-year-old missed out on winning the Champions League with Bayern and the World Cup with England, but Matthäus still believes he deserves the Ballon d’Or, arguing that no other player has outperformed him.
“For me, Kane is THE leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or. I judge the entire year, not just one game or one World Cup. Several players have won the Spanish league with Barcelona and the World Cup with their national team, but was there ONE player who stood above all the others? With Lamine Yamal, I would say no,” Matthäus wrote in a column for Sky Germany.
“Lionel Messi won the MLS with Inter Miami, a league that isn’t as strong as those in Europe. He scored eight goals at the World Cup, but also missed two penalties. Kylian Mbappé reached the World Cup semifinals with France, but did not win a title with Real Madrid. The same applies to England’s Jude Bellingham.
“Kane won two domestic titles with Bayern Munich. The only blemish is that he missed the final in both the World Cup and the Champions League. Otherwise, he produced outstanding performances and, in my opinion, didn’t have a single poor spell. He and Rodri are players who let their actions on the pitch do the talking and don’t make headlines through stories away from football. For me, Kane is the player who most deserves the Ballon d’Or.”
The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be awarded at a ceremony in London in October 2026.
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