Lothar Matthaus backs Harry Kane as top Ballon d’Or 2026 contender
Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthäus has named England captain Harry Kane as the player who deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or the most. Speaking to Sky Germany, Matthäus praised Kane for avoiding any poor spell throughout the year, winning two domestic titles with Bayern and earning a bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He contrasted Kane’s record with other contenders: Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga and the World Cup with Spain but did not stand out; Lionel Messi, who won MLS with Inter Miami and scored eight World Cup goals but missed two penalties; Kylian Mbappé, who reached the World Cup semi‑finals with France but failed to win a trophy at Real Madrid; and Jude Bellingham, whose club and international performances were similar. Matthäus also highlighted Rodri as another player who lets on‑field actions speak, but maintained that Kane’s consistency makes him the top choice. This endorsement comes just weeks after Matthäus backed Paris Saint‑German’s Ousmane Dembélé for the same award. The Ballon d’Or will be awarded later this year, recognizing the best men’s footballer based on performances over the previous season.
Given Kane’s strong club form and international medal, will his lack of a major trophy with Bayern or England affect voters’ perception, or does steady excellence weigh more heavily in the Ballon d’Or race?