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Will Harry Kane win the 2026 Ballon d'Or? Bayern Munich striker told it would be ‘bizarre’ if he is denied the Golden Ball as former England star explains why Lamine Yamal should miss out

Harry Kane missing out in the 2026 Ballon d'Or voting would be “bizarre”, Chris Waddle has told GOAL, with the Bayern Munich and England superstar seen as the most logical choice for Golden Ball recognition. Spain’s World Cup triumph on North American soil has, however, brought the likes of Lamine Yamal and Rodri into contention for the ‘best player on the planet’ honour.

Champions League & World Cup exploits influence Ballon d'Or vote

Players who lift the biggest team trophies in any given season usually feature heavily in the Ballon d'Or voting. Champions League success carries major importance, while World Cup years are often shaped by those who shine brightest on the grandest stage in sport.

Paris Saint-Germain conquered Europe once again in 2025-26 - placing Ousmane Dembele in the frame for back-to-back Golden Balls - while Kylian Mbappe rewrote the record books at FIFA’s showpiece event this summer by becoming the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Record-breaking Kane ranked above Mbappe & Co

France’s failure to secure another world title is considered to have damaged the Golden Ball hopes of many of their biggest names - with Michael Olise also among those to have sparked plenty of debate - meaning pre-tournament favourite Kane has moved back up the list.

He missed out on Champions League glory last season, while England ended the 2026 World Cup in third place, but he still struck 61 goals for Bayern Munich - as they won another Bundesliga title - and remains a talismanic figure for the Three Lions as national captain and their all-time top scorer.

Is Kane the favourite for Ballon d'Or glory in 2026?

Now 33, the former Tottenham striker has continued to set the benchmark for individual excellence and relentless consistency. With that in mind, can he follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and others by becoming a Ballon d'Or winner?

When that question was put to Waddle, the former England and Spurs winger - speaking in association with BetBrain - told GOAL: “There's a lot of players I'd say that deserve it. But it's just bizarre for me how you've got to win trophies to win the Ballon d'Or.

“Football's a team game. It's not about an individual - that’s completely different from a team. So Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League, so all of a sudden people from PSG are thrown forward.

“With Harry, you look at the individual and think, ‘He's played for a good side and he's in the Champions League, got to the semis and lost out to Paris’. England didn’t win the World Cup, so that'll harm his chances.

“You're judged on what you do as a player individually. You don't have to be in a winning team - that’s 11 players. Eleven players are not going to get the Ballon d'Or, one player gets it. I don't get this rule where if they didn't win a cup and they didn't win the World Cup, they didn't win the Champions League, so that's him out of the reckoning. I just don't get that.

“I'm sorry, but you judge players on a season and Harry Kane's had a phenomenal season for Bayern Munich and England. Why is he not being awarded it? Because he didn't win a trophy, which is a team game, not an individual as the Ballon d'Or is. I don't get that.

“Will some Spaniard now come forward and Yamal get it? Who's had a decent season with Barcelona, won the league and they've won the World Cup, but he didn't really play well in the World Cup, let's be honest, he's been injured a lot.

“But all of a sudden people like that come forward because Spain won the World Cup. It's not about that. The Ballon d'Or should always be the best player of the season. And Harry Kane, from my eyes, should lift it.”

Who was the last Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or?

Kane has never finished higher than 10th in the Ballon d'Or voting - having reached that position on three previous occasions (2017, 2018 and 2024). He was placed only 13th in 2025, but has once again taken his game to another level over the past 12 months.

He is aiming to become the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the Golden Ball. Bookmakers currently have him as the favourite to come out on top this time, but Yamal and Rodri remain close challengers.