Cucurella: I'd have voted Mbappé or Yamal over Kane for Ballon d'Or
Real Madrid defender Marc Cucurella says Harry Kane deserved the 2026 Ballon d'Or but admits he would have voted for Kylian Mbappé or Lamine Yamal instead. Speaking on Spanish show El Chiringuito, Cucurella called Kane's 73 goals in 65 appearances "spectacular" and acknowledged the Bayern striker's 1,055-point victory at the October 26 ceremony in London was fair.
Kane edged Mbappé (1,027 points) and Barcelona's Yamal (881 points) to become the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Despite the numbers, Cucurella prefers players who make him "turn on the TV to watch" — naming his current Real Madrid teammate Mbappé and former Barcelona teammate Yamal as his top two.
The Spaniard refused to choose between them, saying: "They are both teammates of mine, which is lucky, and I've been happy for both." Kane's record-breaking season included 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern, but Cucurella's view highlights a recurring debate: pure statistical dominance versus the excitement factor that draws viewers.
For Nigerian fans following European football, this reveals how peers evaluate greatness differently from journalists and coaches who vote. The Ballon d'Or criteria blend individual brilliance, team success, and "fair play" — but personal bias inevitably shapes decisions.
Would you reward Kane's historic goal haul or the match-winning flair of Mbappé and Yamal?