Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane had a sensational 2025/26 campaign, which was his best season ever for club and country combined.
Was it good enough to win the Ballon d’Or? Well, Lothar Matthäus sure thinks so and told as much to Sky Germany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia):
For me, Harry Kane is the leading contender for the Ballon d’Or. I look at the entire year, not just one game or one World Cup. Several players won the Spanish league with Barcelona and then became world champions with Spain, but was there THE one player who stood head and shoulders above everyone else? In Lamine Yamal’s case, I would say no.
Lionel Messi won the MLS with Inter Miami, a league that is not 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 semi-finals with France, but he failed to win a trophy with Real Madrid. The same applies to England’s Jude Bellingham
Kane won two domestic titles with Bayern Munich. The fact that he failed to reach the final at both the World Cup and in the Champions League is the only blemish. Otherwise, he has produced outstanding performances and, in my opinion, didn’t go through a single poor spell. He and Rodri are also players who let their actions on the pitch do the talking and have not attracted attention through stories off the pitch.
For me, Kane is the player who deserves the Ballon d’Or the most.
Matthäus has a good point and during a season where none of the France Football favorites really made a bigger impact, it would be easy see Kane winning the trophy.
It will not be easy, but maybe this is the time that all the nonsense gets swept away.
We can hope, right?
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