Former Germany international Lothar Matthäus has declared Harry Kane the leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, citing the England captain’s remarkable consistency throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
Writing in his Sky Germany column, Matthäus described Kane as “THE leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or” following a season in which the striker netted 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions. The 33-year-old spearheaded Bayern Munich’s attack as the club secured the German double, capturing both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.
Matthäus argued that Kane deserves the award despite Bayern falling short in the Champions League final and England losing the World Cup final. “I judge the entire year, not just one game or one World Cup,” he wrote, suggesting that sustained excellence should outweigh isolated disappointments.
The pundit assessed Kane’s credentials against Europe’s other elite performers. While Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal captured both the Spanish league and the World Cup, Matthäus questioned whether the teenager truly dominated those triumphs. “Was there ONE player who stood above all the others? With Lamine Yamal, I would say no,” he stated.
He also examined the claims of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who lifted the MLS title in what Matthäus considers a weaker competition than Europe’s elite leagues, and noted Messi’s two missed penalties at the World Cup despite scoring eight goals. Meanwhile, Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham reached the World Cup semifinals with France and England respectively, yet neither secured major silverware at club level during the campaign.
Matthäus praised Kane’s reliability throughout the year, claiming the striker “didn’t have a single poor spell.” He grouped Kane alongside Manchester City’s Rodri as players who “let their actions on the pitch do the talking.”
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in London this October, offering Kane the opportunity to claim the trophy on home soil.