Anthony Gordon backs Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane for 2026 Ballon d’Or
Anthony Gordon has named Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane as his picks to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, saying both have strong arguments based on recent achievements. The 25-year-old England winger made the comments ahead of England’s Nations League match against Spain on Saturday, citing Yamal’s extraordinary breakthrough at a young age and Kane’s historic goal-scoring season. According to Gordon, speaking to Mundo Deportivo, “It’s incredible what Lamine Yamal has accomplished at such a young age. He is on a completely different level right now.” He added that if the award considered last season alone, Kane’s case would be as strong as anyone’s because of the number of goals he scored and his contributions at the World Cup. Gordon concluded, “The Ballon d’Or, for me, has to go to one of these two [Yamal and Kane], based on what they have achieved.”
The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to the best male footballer in the world, with voters weighing club and international performances. Yamal, a teenage sensation at Barcelona, has drawn praise for his maturity and impact in La Liga and the Champions League, while Kane, now with Bayern Munich, finished the 2024‑25 season as one of Europe’s top scorers and played a key role for England in the 2024 World Cup. Their contrasting profiles—youthful explosiveness versus sustained elite production—highlight the debate over what voters value most.
Who do you think deserves the 2026 Ballon d’Or based on recent form—Yamal’s meteoric rise or Kane’s consistent goal‑scoring excellence?