Matthäus says Kane deserves Ballon d'Or more than anyone

Germany great Lothar Matthäus sees Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as the leading contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

“On Wednesday, the Englishman will receive the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer. For me, Kane is also THE contender for the Ballon d’Or,” Matthäus wrote in his column for broadcaster Sky on Monday.

The 65-year-old said Kane deserved the award more than anyone else. The Ballon d’Or ceremony is due to take place in London for the first time on October 26.

Matthäus pointed to Kane’s performances for Bayern, saying the striker had won the German league and cup double and delivered “outstanding performances” throughout the year without going through a single poor spell.

“The fact that he missed out on the final at both the World Cup and in the Champions League is the only drawback,” Matthäus said.

Kane and Bayern were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, while England lost to eventual runners-up Argentina in the World Cup last four.

Kane himself was more cautious about his chances, saying on his return to Bayern training that he had done all he could with his performances and that the outcome was now up to the voters.